Decision details

Proposed decision 

Extend the current contract in line with contract conditions for a further two years from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024; include a modification notice to the contract to allow a separate Lot to be added that enables the purchasing of pathway 3 discharge beds on behalf of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group and 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 required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.

Decision Details

The Older Persons Residential and Nursing Contract shall expire automatically on the 31 March 2022 unless the council exercise the right, by giving written notice to the Provider, to extend the contract for a further two years from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024, giving up to 3 (three) months’ notice to the Provider (or such other time agreed between the Parties).

The ambition is to work in collaboration with the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group to support a joined-up approach for purchasing assessment beds for Health across the county. This will support timely discharge from hospital to a pathway 3 assessment beds. A modification notice will be placed on the contract to enable an additional Lot to be added to enable Providers to bid to provide beds to the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group. The current plan is to have this in place from 1 April 2022 subject to approval, governance and agreement from the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council.

The current Older Persons Residential and Nursing Contract commenced in April 2016 with an initial four-year contract period. The Council may, by giving written notice to the Provider extend this Contract for such further period or periods of up to 4 (four) years as agreed between the Parties. The contract is by way of a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), allows the Council to add new providers during the lifetime of the contract having passed the relevant selection criteria and provide an indicative tender which meets the specification.

The contract includes five Lots that providers can tender for;

• Lot 1 CQC Registered Residential Homes or “Care Homes without nursing” for the provision of Long Term, Short Term and respite care services;
• Lot 2 CQC Registered Nursing Homes or “Care Homes with nursing” for the provision of Long Term, Short Term and respite care services;
• Lot 3 Providers of Bariatric care services;
• Lot 4 Call off Block Contract for the provision of multiples of two beds for short term Respite care services across Kent; and
• Lot 5 Residential or Nursing Care Home providers able to offer ‘day’ services.

Reason for the Decision

The current Older Persons Residential and Nursing Contract will automatically expire on the 31 March 2022 unless the council exercise the right, by giving written notice to the Provider, to extend the contract for a further two years from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024, giving up to 3 (three) months’ notice to the Provider (or such other time agreed between the Parties).

Extending the contract by two years to 31 March 2024 will provide the necessary time and resource to consider the integration of the wider health and social care system and new models of care that ensure the right residential accommodation is available for the people of Kent.

Following approval and governance requirements being signed off from the Council and the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group a modification notice will be placed to enable an additional Lot to be added to the contract and enable Providers to bid to provide beds to the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group. The current plan is to have this in place from 1 April 2022. This addition will further allow joined up working across Health and Social Care with the Care Home market and reduce pressures created through the system not working in a collaborative manner.

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

a) EXTEND the current contract in line with contract conditions for a further two years from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024;

b) MODIFY the contract to allow a separate Lot to be added that enables the purchasing of Pathway 3 Discharge Beds on behalf of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group; and

c) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of the contract modification or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.