Agenda item

      Report of the Chief Executive

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND and Inclusion presented a report which outlined the proposals for adults’ home care service to be purchased through a two year Flexible Framework with the possibility of a one year extension.

Cllr Davies highlighted the reasons for a revised approach to the recommissioning of adults’ home care and that this approach would help to support and stabilise the market in the short term, provide an environment to review and pilot different concepts to inform future long term home care developments. The tender approach would take into consideration the challenges currently being faced by the market and be informed by Wiltshire 2022 Cost of Care exercise and Market Sustainability Plan.

Cabinet noted that due to the ongoing challenges being experienced the proposal to purchase adults’ home care through a one year Flexible Framework would be extended to a two year Flexible Framework.

The Deputy Leader indicated her support for the proposals and reported that Cabinet would consider similar proposals for Children’s home care later in the meeting. 

Cllr Christopher Williams, Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, on behalf of Cllr Johnny Kidney, Chair of the Health Select Committee reported that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Select Committee received a briefing on 31 October 2022. They were fully satisfied with the proposals, and with the rationale behind them. They were also happy that there were no financial implications that required dedicated financial scrutiny.

Cllr Ian Thorn welcomed the proposals and asked for further information about how the Council would undertake co-production to develop a vision and model, and whether the proposals addressed the current market failures.  In response, Cllr Davies and officers highlighted the work to be undertaken with community groups, Area Boards, providers, voluntary and health sector partners, and confirmed that they would be working with the market as closely as possible to address any failures. 

Resolved:

1.    To agree that adult’s home care services are purchased through a two-year Flexible Framework with the possibility of a one year extension.

2.    To agree that officers continue to undertake to prepare and complete the tender programme, award and implement a new Flexible Framework contract for adult’s home care by 1st April 2023.

3.    To delegate authority to approve the new pricing model and associated uplift mechanisms, award a new contract, extension option and future mini competitions/pilots and all associated documents to the Director Procurement & Commissioning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND and Transition and Inclusion, the Corporate Director People and Corporate Director Resources/Deputy Chief Executive.

Reason for decision:

The purpose of this paper is to provide an update to Cabinet on the Wiltshire Council procurement process for adults’ home care and sets out the revised approach that is being taken.

Cabinet is asked to agree:

·       the method outlined to complete a tender process that enables the purchase of adults’ home care provision through a Flexible Framework

·       a two-year Flexible Framework contract with the possibility of a one year extension contract to help stabilise the home care market and test approaches to inform future long-term home care developments

(Note: The meeting was adjourned between 11.48am and 12.00 noon)