The short breaks service makes a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of adult carers and supports the County Council to fulfil its duties towards carers under the Care Act 2014.
The short breaks contract supports adults who care for other vulnerable adults, including older people, people with a learning disability or people with mental health problems. It is jointly funded by Health and Social Care and the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and has been in place for three years.
The contract is coming to an end on 30 April 2016 but funding has been identified to recommission the service for a further two years until 31 March 2018.
Financial Implications:
The current contract value is £1.5m per annum, which includes a contribution of £700k per annum from Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The contract will be re-commissioned for two years, from 1 May 2016 to 31 March 2018.
Legal Implications:
The Care Act 2014 makes clear that carers have the same rights as those they care for and should have access to the support they need. Local Authorities must offer carers an assessment based on the appearance of need and have a duty to meet unmet eligible needs. Local authorities must also provide or arrange services that help prevent people developing needs for care and support or delay people deteriorating so that they would need ongoing care and support.
Equality Implications:
None
The matter is referred to in the Directorate’s Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/11/2015
Decision due: Not before 16th Dec 2015 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Mark Lobban
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Karen Busby, Policy and Relationships Adviser (Health) 03000 415281; 03000 415342; 03000 416475 Email: Karen.Busby@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 415281, Emma Hanson, Senior Commissioning Manager Email: emma.hanson@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01622 696611, Craig Merchant, Senior Commissioner Email: craig.merchant@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 416475.
Consultees
Cabinet Committeerecommendationsandother consultation:
The proposeddecision wasdiscussed atthe AdultSocialCare andHealth CabinetCommittee on3
December 2015.Officers introducedthe reportwhich askedthe Cabinet Committeeto consider and endorse,or makerecommendations tothe CabinetMember forAdult SocialCare andPublic Health with regardto there-commissioning ofshort breaksfor adultcarers of vulnerableadults inKent for two years until31 March2018.
• Officers said:the short breakscontract wasjointly funded by Health andKent County Council; thecontract hadbeen inplace forthree years;and thatfunding hadbeen identified to re-commissionthe service.
• In responseto questions,officers saidrespite carewas providedfor vulnerableadults away from theirhomes andwas commissionedin conjunctionwith clinicalcommissioning groups. This contractreferred toshort breakservices providedfor carersin thehome.
• During thediscussion Membersacknowledged thevaluable roleplayed bycarers. Itwas also confirmedthat theprovision ofa shortbreaks serviceswas astatutory requirement.
The AdultSocial Careand HealthCabinet Committeeresolved thatthe proposedCabinet Member decision tore-commission theshort breaksfor adultcarers ofvulnerable adultsand todelegate authorityto theCorporate Directorfor Social CareHealth andWellbeing, orother nominatedofficer, to authorise theletting ofthe contractbe endorsed.
Although theservices beingdelivered willremain thesame engagementis plannedthrough Carers' forums andat providerevents.
Financial implications: Lead officer: Emma Hanson Head of Commissioning Community Support 03000 415342 Karen Cook Commissioning Manager 03000 415281 Craig Merchant Procurement Manager 03000 416475
Legal implications: 15/00102