Proposed decision:
A. Award the contract to the successful bidder identified as part of the procurement process, for the provision of People’s Voice Activity (Including Healthwatch Kent), for a maximum of five years (Initial three-year contract with options for two one-year extensions);
B. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health, after 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 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 the decision:
The current People’s Voice Contract expires automatically on 30 September 2022. Following a successful procurement process a preferred bidder has been identified to award a new contract to, starting from 1 October 2022. The new contract will be for a maximum of five years. (Initial three- year contract with provision for two one-year extensions)
Kent County Council has a statutory duty to commission a local Healthwatch organisation to carry out the eight statutory activities laid out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
The aim of the People’s Voice Service is to promote and empower Kent citizens to have a voice in influencing, developing and shaping health and care services in Kent and to provide information and advice as appropriate (in collaboration with other services) and through a variety of methods.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 29/06/2022
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt - View reasons
Decision due: Not before 28th Jul 2022 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Richard Smith
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Simon Mitchell, Senior Commissioner Email: simon.mitchell@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The decision to begin the procurement was endorsed by the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 1 December 2021. The proposed decision to award the contract was considered and endorsed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 13 July 2022.
Financial implications: The budget of the People’s Voice Activity Contract is made up from various sources: The annual contribution from each source is: Government grant (covers the Healthwatch element): £363,000 Adult Social Care: £311,130 Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group: £78,129 Total budget/contract value: £752,259 per annum The lifetime value of the contract (including provision for the two one-year extensions) is £3,761,295. A budget saving to the Adult Social Care contribution has been applied, equivalent to 10% of the previous year's contributions.
Legal implications: The Strategic Commissioning Division used the standard Care Services Terms and Conditions of contract. There will need to be resource allocated at the end point contract award for contracts to be signed and sealed. The new contract will be taken forward in a way which ensures the Council’s statutory responsibilities are discharged accordingly. The provision of Healthwatch Kent is a statutory responsibility of the Council.
Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken as part of the tender process and has been updated when changes have occurred and have been fully considered. All the significant changes will be approached in a manner that respect and adhere to the Council’s equalities responsibilities. A Data Protection Impact Assessment is not required.