Decision details

Proposed decision

Direct award of the contract, under the Framework Y24008, for the delivery of the Community Equipment Service

Reason for the decision

The Council has a statutory obligation to provide the community equipment service to support people with health and/or social care needs following discharge from hospital as detailed within the Care Act 2014.

The Kent Community Equipment Service (“KCES”) plays an essential role for both Health and Social Care in meeting the needs of Kent residents and has a significant impact on the smooth functioning of acute and community health services. Failure, even for a relatively brief period of time of the KCES would have severe and far-reaching consequences for people who use the service.

The decision may not be reasonably deferred because failure of the KCES contract, and therefore not having continuity of service provision, would detrimentally impact; the Council’s ability to deliver against their statutory duties; delay hospital discharge; increase hospital admission; be a real risk to individuals and therefore safeguarding; increase pressure on Mental Health and Carers’ services; and have a potential impact on increased costs to the health and social care sector. The timelines for securing continued service delivery do not allow for compliance with normal Executive Decision-making notice periods and arrangements.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

Various options including retendering the services on the open market and awarding short term contracts for replacement services have been considered but these were not taken forward due to the need to have continuity of provision to meet statutory obligations under the Care Act 2014

How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026

The proposed decision aligns to ‘‘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.

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

a)    AGREE to the direct award of the contract under the Framework Y24008 for the delivery of the Community Equipment Service on general terms as set out in the Decision Report;

b)    DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to negotiate, finalise and enter into the required contracts with the selected provider; and

c)    DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to entering into other contracts or legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.