Issue - meetings

Mr Simon Mitchell, Senior Commissioner, was in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr Mitchell introduced the report and updated the committee on the remaining new contracts for Community Based Wellbeing Services and said the Carers’ Short Breaks Contract was a further direct award for one year to allow time for development of the Adult Carers Strategy.

2.    Mr Mitchell responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:

(a)  Asked how the Dementia Coordinator Service would enhance the dementia services already provided Mr Mitchell said it was a new bespoke service where newly diagnosed patients were assigned a coordinator to help them, and their families, navigate through different parts of the health and social care system.

(b)  Asked whether voluntary organisations would be included within the contract, Mr Mitchell said there had been extensive engagement to ensure organisations worked together to deliver future contracts. Mr Mitchell said the Council had made clear to lead organisations during the tender process they were not expected to deliver the full breadth of the contract and were expected to work in partnership with other organisations. 

(c)  Asked for clarification on the total figure for Lot 9 – Post Diagnostic Support Services in the Community for People with Dementia and their Families in North Kent – on page 168 in the Agenda Reports Pack, Mr Mitchel confirmed later on in the meeting that the 5 year total should have read £1,240,000 and not £2,821,500.

3.  It was RESOLVED that the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health to:

a)    Approve the Direct award of a year contract until 31 March 2023 for the provision of Carers’ Short Breaks;

b)    Approve the contract awards (as detailed in the exempt appendices 1 and 2) for the provision of Community Based Wellbeing Services funded by Kent County Council for a period of three years with the option to extend for further periods of up to two years, and Dementia Coordinator Services funded by the NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group and Kent County Council for a period of two years; and

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

be endorsed subject to the following abstentions:

Ms Meade asked for her abstention to be noted. Mr Campkin asked for his abstention to be noted pending the correct 5 year total mentioned under 2(c) above.