The Assistant Director – All Age Disability presented the report of The Director of Care and Health.

The report requested approval to recommission the Wirral Independence Service (WIS) within quarter 2 of financial year 2023/2024. The current contract ends in June 2024 and there are no further contract extensions available. This is a joint commission with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (Wirral Place) (NHSCMICB) and is managed via the Better Care Fund. The WIS is inclusive of:

· The provision of Community Equipment.

· Technology Enabled Care and Response service.

· Carers emergency card.

· Falls Pick up service.

· Falls prevention service.

· Provision of Paediatric equipment.

· Education equipment for schools.

Members were informed that; the Wirral Health and Care system must ensure that it had a fully operational and responsive community equipment and technology enabled care (TEC) service to meet local needs to meet its statutory duties. That the use of TEC formed a key part of the Councils approach to digital care and early intervention and prevention services. That the Council had a duty to ensure value for money and to tender will ensure that best value is sought. And a longer contract length of up to 10 years, would support the successful tenderer to invest in local infrastructure and support social value

Members queried the social value of the tender and were informed that there was a 15% weighting for social value. Members noted that this was not especially high and asked for Real Living Wage and Union Representation to be considered as well. Members were informed that any tender would be subject of an Officer decision Notice.

Resolved – that,

1.  The re-commission of the Wirral Independence Service on a 5-year contract (with options for a 3-year, plus a 2-year contract extension) with a total contract value of £4.2m annually, up to £42m over 10-years be approved.

2.  The director of Adult Social Care and Health be authorised to award the contract to the most economically advantageous tenderer.