Decision details

Proposed decision:  Contract variation to the Kent Learning Disability Advocacy Contract to incorporate Community Advocacy for People with a Learning Disability.

How the decision relates to Corporate Objectives:

Supports the outcome outlined in ‘Increasing opportunities, Improving outcomes’, which states that the Council wants older and vulnerable residents to be safe and supported, with choices, to live independently.

Financial Implications:  The overall value of the Kent Learning Disability Advocacy contract is £1.1m.  The annual cost of the Community Advocacy for People with a Learning Disability contract is currently £268k per annum.

Legal Implications:  Throughout the tender for the Kent Learning Disability Advocacy contract it was clearly stated that, although Community Advocacy for People with a Learning Disability was out of the scope of this contract, the right was reserved to include this provision within the contract at a later date.  By stating this throughout the tender and contract documentation, Corporate Procurement is satisfied that a contract variation can legally be made to incorporate Community Advocacy for People with a Learning Disability into the existing Kent Learning Disability Advocacy contract.

Equality Implications:  An EqIA was completed when the Kent Learning Disability Advocacy Contract was originally tendered.  The EqIA has been updated to include this proposed change and no further risks have been highlighted.

The matter is referred to in the Directorate Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health I

(a)  Approve a variation to the Kent Advocacy Contract to include Community Advocacy for People with a Learning Disability and

(b)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated officer to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision