Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care outlining the procurement of carers support services. This procurement will be commissioning an integrated service for children, young people and adults.

(i)  To approve the recommendation to proceed with a procurement of an integrated Carers Support Services

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Quality & Integration to carry out a procurement process for the provision for the carers’ support services as set out in this report and to enter into contracts in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Quality & Integration following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members to decide on the final model of commissioned services for Carers Support Services and all decision making in relation to this recommissioning.

(iv)  To authorise the Director of Quality and Integration to take all necessary actions to implement the proposals contained in this report.

1.  The provision of effective carers IAS and assessments supports the outcomes the Council wants to achieve in relation to increasing prevention and early intervention and helping people to find their own solutions as far as possible.

2.  There is an opportunity to integrate young carers and adult services to improve the adoption of whole family approaches when supporting families where young carers exist, and limit them having inappropriate caring roles.

3.  Integrating the services reflects a wider piece of work with voluntary sector providers which aims to consolidate services into larger single contracts, with partnership arrangements where appropriate, to achieve greater impact and support preventative approaches.

4.  The contracts for the current carers’ services will come to an end in March 2018 and there is a need to recommission these services to comply with public procurement law.

1.  To continue to fund individual services without maximising the opportunities for developing an integrated approach to service delivery: this would not provide the most appropriate service and miss opportunities for improving access for individuals.

2.  To provide all assessments through the Carers Support Services: this would not adequately enable the development of appropriately linking carers’ assessments with replacement care required for them to live a life independently of caring.

3.  To decommission either or both services: the Council has to provide the service to meet statutory requirements and the decision to externally commission reflects the findings of the review and successful performance of the service in a community setting.