Decision details

Proposed decision:

Extension of the current Discharge Pathway 1 Services contracts (Discharge to Assess Service and Assisted Discharge Service) for one year, from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023; commencement of activity to develop a long term jointly commissioned Discharge Pathway 1 Services model and delegation of authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into legal agreements, as necessary to extend the current Discharge Pathway 1 Services; and to facilitate activity with regard to developing the jointly commissioned Discharge Pathway 1 Services model, with NHS Partners.

Reason for the decision:

The current hospital discharge service contracts commissioned by Kent County Council encompass Discharge to Assess Service and Assisted Discharge Service, which form part of Discharge Pathway 1 Service, for people discharged from hospital who need support to recover at home. Across Kent, there are a number of other services that also align with the pathway, commissioned by the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (KMCCG) and other health partners.

The contracts were originally due to expire on 31 March 2020 but were extended to 30 September 2022, due to the unprecedented demands of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to ensure that service delivery was not disrupted.

These services are essential in ensuring that people are able to recover at home following discharge from hospital and be supported until further assessment can be undertaken if required, alleviating blockages in patient flow through the system and preventing unnecessary delayed discharges; as such, it is essential that any new model of service delivery adequately supports both the process and the person, with capacity in the right place, at the right time.

To avoid any gap in service delivery, new arrangements must be in place by 1 October 2022.

Financial Implications:

The annual budgets for the Discharge Pathway 1 Services are set out in the table below:

Opportunities to improve the current service model, incorporating the Making a Difference Everyday (MADE) design principles of ensuring people have the right support, in the right place, at the right time as well as generating efficiencies which will be explored as part of the jointly commissioned long-term approach. Historically, the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group has financed additional Discharge to Assess capacities; the ability to incorporate additional funding will still be available within the extension period.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I agree to:

a)    EXTEND the current Discharge Pathway 1 Services contracts (Discharge to Assess Service and Assisted Discharge Service) for one year, from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023;

b)    COMMENCE activity to develop a long term jointly commissioned Discharge Pathway 1 Services model; and

c)    DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into legal agreements, as necessary to extend the current Discharge Pathway 1 Services; and to facilitate activity with regard to developing the jointly commissioned Discharge Pathway 1 Services model, with NHS Partners.