Reason for the Decision:
The current Integrated Community Equipment Service contract is due to expire on 30 November 2022 and new arrangements need to be in place by 1 December 2022.
There is opportunity to design a service that meets the needs of local populations, promotes choice and retains equity of service provision.
The new service will be integrated with health and social care and based on the Making a Difference Everyday (MADE) approach. It will align to the new Strategic Direction principles including Self-Directed Support.
A contract extension of the current service for 16 months will provide the time needed to undertake the service re-design.
Consideration was also given to service re-procurement with small efficiency changes, and this would have enabled re-procurement within the time limit of the current contract, however rising demand and costs of logistics and raw materials are driving up service costs and it was agreed that a service re-design was needed to ensure future sustainability.
The new service model will align to the priorities of ‘‘Framing Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022 – 2026’ and will: -
· Narrow the gaps in outcomes between different parts of Kent with a particular focus on providing the right type of equipment to improve life in deprived communities.
· Harness digital connectivity to ensure people are aware of all their options and have access to all the equipment and services they need and want.
· Contribute to the Net Zero targets, by exploring options to reduce the carbon footprint of the service.
· Manage future demand and resource challenges facing the service to ensure it continues to support people to lead the lives they want to live in the future.
Financial Implications:
The annual budget for this service has steadily increased since the contract inception with annual growth from c£9m to £15m net to the indicated levels in the below table:
|
2021/ 2022 |
||||
|
Annual Budget |
KCC Adults |
KCC Other |
Joint |
Health only |
|
15,451,934 |
2,511,379 |
519,213 |
3,036,510 |
9,384,831 |
KCC receive funding from the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (formerly the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group) for 2 posts linked to the management of this contract. They have also agreed to contribute £50,000 to the re-procurement costs.
The combined health and social care cost of extending the current service for 16 months until 31 March 2024 would be circa £20,602,578 million based on current spend 2021/22. KCC’s proportion of this is likely to be in the region of £6,062,462 based on current spend 2021/22.
Commissioners are working with the current provider on early cost efficiency schemes to address the risk of rising costs during the contract extension period.
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: 05/09/2022
Decision due: Not before 4th Oct 2022 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Richard Smith
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Sharon Wilcock Email: Sharon.wilcock@kent.gov.uk or 03000 423160 Email: Sharon.wilcock@kent.gov.uk.
Consultation process
Public consultation undertaken or planned:
Full public consultation will be undertaken and this will inform redesign of the new service.
Cabinet Committee consultation planned:
The proposed decision will be discussed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 28 September 2022.
Financial implications: As above.
Legal implications: The provision of services to support people with health and/or social care needs following discharge from hospital is detailed within the Care Act 2014. Paragraph 8.14 of the Statutory Care and Support Guidance states that “local authorities may not charge for assessments, community equipment and minor adaptations, intermediate care or reablement for up to six weeks”. Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 allows for modification of up to 50% of the original contract value where the need is brought about by circumstances that a reasonable authority could not have foreseen.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications: An Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) was completed for the commissioning of this service in 2015. An EQIA for the contract extension has not been completed, as there is no change to service provision. An EQIA will be undertaken to support the service re-design and long-term jointly commissioned service. Data Protection Implications: There are no anticipated data implications associated with the contract extension, as there will be no change to current service, or the data collected or shared, and therefore this will be covered under existing contract clauses. A Data Impact Assessment will be undertaken to support the service re-design and long-term jointly commissioned option.