Decision details

To approve the award of new contracts for the provision of Older Persons Residential and Older Persons’ Nursing Care from 4 April 2016 and approve the final County Council Guide Prices for 2016-17.

The proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’:

·   Older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently

·   Families and carers of vulnerable and older people have access to the advice, information and support they need

·   Older and vulnerable residents feel socially included

·   Residents have greater choice and control over the health and social care they receive

Financial Implications

The provisional Guide Prices did not include the impact of the introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW). In-depth analysis has been undertaken to understand the impact of the NLW on the residential care market (along with other sectors of Adult Social Care) and this has now adjusted the provisional Guide Prices as follows:

·         Residential:               £373.51

·         Residential High:     £455.45

·         Nursing:         £504.73

·         Nursing High:           £530.28

Providers were asked to submit their price either at the Council’s published Provisional Guide Price or above that price. Where the price is above the provisional guide price, an undertaking was given that those prices would be adjusted to the final         Guide Prices for 2016. This should be extended to any prices that were above the             Council’s provisional guide price but are below the actual Guide Prices so that the           minimum price for tendered providers are not below the Guide Prices for 2016.

Work is required to uplift prices for client services where a contract is signed by the provider so that:

·         any individual below the new Guide Price will be increased to the new Guide Price for the placement category so long as the provider joins the framework and accepts the contracts terms and conditions

·         all contract prices for existing clients that are above the new Guide Prices will not receive a corresponding increase but will need adjustment for the impact of the National Living Wage and inflation

·         Where there is a third party contribution, the third party contribution will be adjusted (reduced/removed) to account for any increase in guide price

The Registered Nursing Care Contribution funded to Nursing Homes for the nursing element of the service is under review by the NHS. The rates shown are for the Social Care contribution only

Legal Implications

Although the council has set its Guide Prices, the design of the contract is for the market to set an indicative (not to exceed) price when joining. Underlying sustainability of the social care market for older people is a key factor when analysing    the costs of care. 

Equality Impact Assessment

An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken for the implementation of the new contracts and a copy is available on request.

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

a)             AGREE the actual guide prices for Older Persons Residential and Nursing Care as follows:

            Residential:               £373.51

            Residential High:     £455.45

            Nursing:                     £504.73

            Nursing High:           £530.28

b)         AWARD contracts to the successful tenderers identified in the Exempt appendix

c)         DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other suitable nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision.