Agenda item

Wirral Evolutions Value for Money Report

Minutes:

The Director of Adults, Health and Strategic Commissioning introduced his report which detailed a value review instigated by Wirral Council between November 2021 and January 2022, following a request initiated at the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee on 18th January 2021. The objectives of the review used several criteria to determine value for money which included, economy, efficiency, stakeholder value and achievability. In addition, stakeholder views had been gathered from staff, people accessing the service, their families, carers, and charitable bodies, throughout November and December 2021. The report set out proposals for the insourcing of the services currently carried out by Wirral Evolutions Limited. The review had been prompted by a number of reports about the company not being able to deliver services within the contract price, although there was no criticism of the quality of services which was well regarded and would not change even if the work was taken in-house. The review concluded that delivery did not justify the costs and bureaucratic burden and none of the expected expansion had been achieved. Staff would be transferred and savings would result from reduced office costs and more direct actions. A consultative board would be formed including users and staff to maintain quality and let them have a say in development of services.

 

Members expressed regret at the loss of Wirral Evolutions which had been set up in hope of growth and they asked questions about the savings to be achieved. They were reassured that the consultative board would maintain quality and satisfaction.

 

Resolved - That:

(1)   the Director of Care and Health be authorised to extend the contract to provide services to support adults with a learning disability currently held by Wirral Evolutions Limited for a limited period not exceeding six months from the 1 April 2022 so as to enable the effective implementation of transition of services currently supplied by the company to the Council.

(2)   the transition of services which are currently delivered by Wirral Evolutions Limited to an in-house model of delivery by the Council be approved starting as soon as reasonably practicable with the intention that those services will be fully transferred back into the Council within six months of the 1 April 2022.

(3)   the Director of Care and Health be authorised to terminate or allow to expire the contract to provide services to support adults with a learning disability currently held by Wirral Evolutions Limited as soon as practicable after the complete and effective transfer of services currently supplied by the company to the Council.

(4)   a Consultative Board be established with stakeholder and staff membership tasked with oversight of the provision of personalised day services and opportunities for adults with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities, enabling people who access the service and their representatives to have a greater input into the delivery of the service.

(5)   the Director of Care and Health be authorised to make all necessary arrangements to insource the services carried out by Wirral Evolutions Limited.

(6)   it be recommended to the Shareholder Board that the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to progress the necessary steps to transfer Wirral Evolutions Limited’s undertaking to the Council, including the cancellation of the current contract with Wirral Evolutions Limited and to consider all appropriate options for the future deployment or disposal of Wirral Evolutions Limited.

(7)   the Director of Care and Health provide a further report to a future Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee to update on the service transition arrangements.

Supporting documents: