Decision details

Approval for Utilising Cambridgeshire County Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Home and Communities Support Services for Homecare Contracts - AUG21/CMDN/25

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Public Health

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Cabinet Member authorised the future expected spend of £6,286,470 by procuring via the Cambridgeshire County Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Home and Communities Support Services, until 1st March 2023, as an alternative way to meet the assessed needs of a Service User.

 

Reasons for the decision:

-       To ensure the residents of Peterborough are supported to remain living in their own homes should they have any care needs.

-       To enable the Council to meet its duty under the Care Act to provide high quality care to the residents of Peterborough.

-       To ensure the supply of quality homecare in Peterborough by supporting the market.

-       To make any and all spend outside of the closed framework compliant, thus protecting service users, providers and the Council.

-       To enable the Council’s operational teams to place packages of care quickly and effectively, reducing time and resources spent on sourcing and seeking an exemption.

-       Efficient sourcing of care will support the hospital discharge process, freeing capacity of beds within healthcare.

 

Alternative options considered:

-       Do nothing and rely solely on the current closed framework.

This option was discounted as the current framework is not able to meet the level of demand for homecare in Peterborough due to the change in the market and loss of Providers. It would result in significant waiting times for homecare, adversely impacting service users, their families and the wider health and social care system.

 

-       Do nothing but source care directly from other providers.

This option was discounted for three reasons. Firstly, it does not provide a robust contractual basis upon which the Council can ensure quality and safety. Secondly, it may be interpreted by other providers as unfair and non-compliant with regulations and so creates a risk of challenge. Thirdly, individual exemptions would be required for every homecare package placed with providers not on the closed framework. The exemption process, given such volumes, would be slow and result in delays and waiting lists for care which would adversely affect service users, their families and the wider health and social care system.

 

-       Do not extend the current framework to allow it to finish in September 2021, and tender another option.

This option was discounted as it does not allow sufficient time to develop and procure a new, effective system before the current one expires.

 

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Background Documents:

Personal Care and Support (Homecare) in Peterborough - AUG18/CMDN/25

 

PCC Home and Support Framework and Contract

 

Publication date: 20/08/2021

Date of decision: 20/08/2021

Effective from: 26/08/2021

Accompanying Documents: