Proposed Decision
a) AWARD temporary rolling three month contracts, with the option to extend for a further three months on a rolling basis as required depending on the position and longevity of the COVID19 crisis, to all those currently grant aided through the Community Wellbeing Service Offer;
b) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director for Finance, to agree the relevant contract extensions as required; and
c) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of 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
Reason for Urgency:
The justification of this action is to ensure the survival of key community-based providers, that will be key to supporting the most vulnerable and isolated residents through the COVID-19 crisis. If this package of support is not put in place, within 3 months, the majority of these organisations will have to close or cease to exist through a lack of income, or support from the Government. If the latter were to happen the majority of the support would then fall to Adult Social Care to cope with.
In order to protect and maintain a community response and support for elderly and vulnerable people, these providers need to be secure in their financial footing and be able to pay their staff and run their vital services. Government financial support packages are not appropriate or available for these providers.
The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted on the provider’s income, due to all their centre closures, while demand for support from those they have supported in the past, along with new referrals, increasing greatly and constantly since the UK Government declared a lockdown.
Background
This decision supports KCC’s Strategic Statement through
supporting key providers that deliver services to older and
vulnerable residents that will ensure they are safe and supported
with choices to live independently. This decision relates to the
proposal within the Strategic Delivery Plan of moving organisations
from grants to contracts.
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: 07/04/2020
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
To support the security of the social care provider market in Kent during the COVID19 crisis and while the procurement programme for the Community Based Wellbeing Services Offer is paused, to enable providers to maintain delivery of essential services to the vulnerable people of Kent
Decision due: 7 Apr 2020 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: Special Urgency
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Richard Smith
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Clare Maynard, Head of Commercial and Procurement 03000 416449.
Consultees
No public consultation has been undertaken due to the urgency process
No Cabinet Committee consultation possible due to urgency process:
The chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Group Spokespeople of the Scrutiny Committee and Chair and Group Spokespeople of the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee have all been briefed on this matter and their comments will be included in the Record of Decision
Financial implications: Financial Implications The total value for the three month contracts will be approximately £3.4m (a total of £6.8m if a second three month period is required).
Legal implications: Senior officers in both strategic commissioning and finance have been consulted on this issue and no market or competition issues have been identified. Advice from Invicta Law and the Office of the General Counsel has also been sought and provided. Details in the Decision Report.
Equalities implications: The temporary contracts will support vulnerable and elderly people in the community who are required to either shield or isolate themselves to protect them from exposure to COVID-19. A number of these organisations are also engaged with the local community hubs coordinated through local District / Borough Council’s. As such they will also be supporting and engaging with other vulnerable and isolated families and residents Data Protection implications: There are no anticipated data implications associated with this decision.