Decision details

Reason for the Decision:

The current Integrated Community Equipment Service contract is due to expire on 30 November 2022 and new arrangements need to be in place by 1 December 2022.

There is opportunity to design a service that meets the needs of local populations, promotes choice and retains equity of service provision.

The new service will be integrated with health and social care and based on the Making a Difference Everyday (MADE) approach. It will align to the new Strategic Direction principles including Self-Directed Support.

A contract extension of the current service for 16 months will provide the time needed to undertake the service re-design.

Consideration was also given to service re-procurement with small efficiency changes, and this would have enabled re-procurement within the time limit of the current contract, however rising demand and costs of logistics and raw materials are driving up service costs and it was agreed that a service re-design was needed to ensure future sustainability.

The new service model will align to the priorities of ‘‘Framing Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022 – 2026’ and will: -

·         Narrow the gaps in outcomes between different parts of Kent with a particular focus on providing the right type of equipment to improve life in deprived communities.

·         Harness digital connectivity to ensure people are aware of all their options and have access to all the equipment and services they need and want.

·         Contribute to the Net Zero targets, by exploring options to reduce the carbon footprint of the service.

·         Manage future demand and resource challenges facing the service to ensure it continues to support people to lead the lives they want to live in the future.

Financial Implications:

The annual budget for this service has steadily increased since the contract inception with annual growth from c£9m to £15m net to the indicated levels in the below table:

KCC receive funding from the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (formerly the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group) for 2 posts linked to the management of this contract. They have also agreed to contribute £50,000 to the re-procurement costs.

The combined health and social care cost of extending the current service for 16 months until 31 March 2024 would be circa £20,602,578 million based on current spend 2021/22. KCC’s proportion of this is likely to be in the region of £6,062,462 based on current spend 2021/22.

Commissioners are working with the current provider on early cost efficiency schemes to address the risk of rising costs during the contract extension period.

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

a) EXTEND the current Integrated Community Equipment Service Contract for 16 months from 1 December 2022 to 31 March 2024;

b) PROCURE a new long term sustainable service model; and

c) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, to finalise the terms of the required contract extension and to facilitate procurement activity, as necessary to implement the decision.