Decision details

Reason(s) for decision:

There is a mixed economy of Care in the Home Services across Kent for adults and children with assessed needs, predominantly contracted to external Providers and spot purchasing arrangements. The scope of these services includes:

•  Home Care Services

•  Extra Care Support (background hours and care and support)

•  Discharge to Assess Services

•  Supporting Independence Services (SIS)

• Supported Living Services

The services in scope deliver very similar tasks in people's homes and there is an opportunity to achieve improved consistency across the market by bringing services together.   Additionally, providers delivering services such as SIS and Discharge to Assess are already delivering within an outcomes-focused approach, whilst the Home Care provision remains time and task focused. Aligning services under one contractual arrangement will enable the Council to take a consistent and equitable approach in shaping the market to focus on the personalisation and outcomes agendas. This will also support the Council's strategic outcome that 'older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently'.

The new contract will bring together the above services, which have previously been delivered separately, under one contractual arrangement.    An integrated Care in the Home Service will support a greater level of consistency, purchasing rigour and transparency in practice.  It will also develop a clearer pathway, with less handoffs between services and a subsequent reduction in assessment costs.   From a Provider perspective, this will enable better control as to how they manage need. This is in line with the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and Children Act 1989.

Furthermore, there is significant overlap between the tasks delivered by Care in the Home Service delivered by the Local Authority and Continuing Health Care support funded by the NHS. The new contract offers an opportunity to improve understanding of this duplication and realise efficiencies through working more collaboratively with health partners.

This has provided an opportunity to rethink what the Local Authority and the public need from Care in the Home services and, with approval, commission a new integrated model.

Legal Implications: The main legislative framework for the Care in The Home Service is the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989 and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.                                                                                                                                                                These are statutory duties, and the new service will be compliant with this legislation. Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 as amended by the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (TUPE) is likely to apply, and the Council will ensure in the event of a change of employer, that it will undertake necessary arrangements, within its remit, to provide for the protection of employees' rights.

To approve the award of the contracts to provide care and support in the home to the successful bidders as identified following a procurement process.