The purpose of the report is to notify Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee of the commissioning activity for Quarter 2 of financial year 2022/2023.

Procurement activity to commence in August 2022 for care and support, for the two new Extra Care Housing Development schemes at Green Heys in Liscard and Spinnaker House in Rock Ferry. Both schemes to go live in financial year 2023/2024 (dates to be confirmed).

Resolved - That 

(1)  the commencement of the tender process for the procurement of care and support at home services for the two new Extra Care Housing Development schemes at Green Heys in Liscard and Spinnaker House in Rock Ferry with an agreed contract length of 5 years from the start date of the respective schemes be authorised.

(2)  the Director of Care and Health be authorised to award the contract to the highest scoring tender within the approved budget following the tender process.

For the care and support services to be provided to residents within the new Extra Care Housing schemes.

To enable care and support at home providers time to both tender and a long lead-in time for mobilisation given the size of the schemes.

The contract length of 5 years is to support providers to recruit staff and invest in the longer-term in staffing for the scheme, and to ensure continuity of care for the people who live in the scheme.

To not procure services to meet the assessed needs of the individuals moving into the accommodation. This would mean that assessed needs would not be met by an onsite single care team, and existing community domiciliary care providers would be unlikely to meet demand within the scheme and there would be a risk that the Council would not fulfil its statutory duty under the Care Act 2014.

To not procure the services to meet the needs of people moving into the scheme, which may mean that people would need placing in residential and nursing care placements to meet their needs, which would not support the best outcomes for people and allow people to remain in their own homes.

Having a contract length shorter than 5 years, but this would not ensure longer-term investment with the provider or ensure continuity of care for the people who live in the scheme. Recruitment in the sector is currently challenging, and a shorter contract length could present a difficulty for the successful provider in recruiting a full care team.