The Head of Service, Commissioning and Contracts presented the report of the Director of Care and Health which provided an update on Extra Care Housing in Wirral. Extra care was a programme to provide accommodation and care for older people and people with mental health conditions as an alternative to residential or nursing care, to allow people to be maintained in their own homes in supportive environment. The report set out the plan to provide appropriate Extra Care Housing schemes in Wirral that would support Wirral residents with eligible needs. These are needs that are assessed as eligible under the Care Act 2014. The report also sought approval for an extension of contracts for the provision of 2 Extra Care Schemes to align with the 6 other Extra Care scheme contracts to enable a single future procurement exercise.  There were units for 329 Older Persons and 106 for disabled people, and the work was on track to increase to 725 by 2026. New sites and providers were being considered on the basis of local need. Providers were assessed on quality criteria rather than on tender price.

Members questioned details such as the volume of shared ownership and the engagement of Members in the consideration of new providers and sites.

Resolved: That

1.   further plans for development of Extra Care Housing for Wirral as set out within this report be endorsed; and

2.   the Director of Care and Health be authorised to approve the extension of the contracts for the provision of care in 2 Extra Care Schemes - St Oswald’s Court, care provided by Professional Carers, and Barncroft, care provided by Community Caring for further terms to align with the 6 other Extra Care schemes care contracts, to enable a single future procurement exercise at a cost of £1.2m.