Decision details

Cabinet authorised the continuation of method of procuring and future predicted spend of up to £11,672,606 by procuring care at home support for Peterborough City Council Clients via Cambridgeshire County Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System (CCC’s DPS) for Home and Community Support Services, from 2nd March 2024 through to 31st October 2027, as an alternative way to meet the assessed needs of a Service User when the existing closed framework of providers is unable to meet demand.

·       To ensure the residents of Peterborough are supported to remain living in their own

·       homes for as long as possible, should they have or develop any care needs.

·       To enable the Council to meet its duty under the Care Act 2014 to provide high quality care to the residents of Peterborough.

·       To ensure the supply of quality homecare in Peterborough by supporting the market through formally commissioned services.

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

·       To enable the Council’s operational teams to agree packages of care quickly and effectively, reducing time and resources spent on sourcing and seeking an off-framework agreement.

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

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 increasing 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.

Previous CMDNs

JCB paper

Homecare contract