Decision details

The proposed decision relates to Corporate Objectives as follows:

The tender of the Integrated Community Equipment Service supports major local and national strategies such as Facing the Challenge - Adult Social Care Transformation Programme (Kent County Council), and the changes required by the Care Act 2014 and the Children & Families Act 2014.

The way in which care is provided has to be transformed, and the ICES project contributes to key strategic outcomes such as:

• Supporting access to the curriculum in education, reducing the need for additional care and support.
• Including equipment provision in the Education Health & Care Plans for eligible children and young people aged 0-25 years

• Reducing avoidable demand on health and social care services through early intervention and prevention
• Improving services for the most vulnerable people in the Kent County Council area

·         Improving the way in which the County Council procures and commissions services for integrated health, social care and education.

Financial Implications: The annual budget for community equipment services is currently approximately £11.4 million, including a contribution from the County Council of £5.64million. The seven NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) contribute the remainder.

Legal Implications: A Section 75 agreement will be entered into by all parties to provide a framework within which the County Council will work with health partners, and includes financial protections for the Council.

Equality Implications: The newly designed service will be delivered to children and adults living with a physical disability and/or a sensory need.

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

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health has taken the following decision:

1)   That the Integrated Community Equipment Service be delivered as an integrated service from 1December 2015, jointly funded by Kent County Council and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups and delivered by a preferred bidder identified, as a result of a competitive tendering exercise; and

2)   To delegate to the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated officer, responsibility to enter all necessary contractual arrangements to formalise the joint funding arrangements. These will include, but not be limited to,:

a.         the signing and affixing of the Council seal to a section 75 agreement between Kent County Council and health partners.

b.         the advertisement and management of a competitive tendering exercise and the award of contract to the preferred bidder, consulting the Cabinet Member as required by the Council’s scheme of financial delegation.