Issue details

Proposed Decision: Approve the commissioning of a Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia and approve a six-month extension to the current Wellbeing Services in the Community contracts.

Reason for the decision

The proposed Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia will replace the existing Wellbeing Services in the Community (older people (55+), people with dementia and their families, and people with physical disabilities). Wellbeing services are a key element of Kent County Council’s prevention offer, supporting people to maintain their health and wellbeing and independence, while preventing, reducing or delaying the need for statutory care and support services.

The current Wellbeing Services in the Community contracts expire on 31 March 2027 with no further extension options available. The proposal for a six-month extension (1 April 2027 to 30 September 2027) to the current contract will allow for procurement and mobilisation of the new service whilst maintaining service continuity. The new service will commence on 1 October 2027.

The current contracts are:

• Wellbeing Services in the Community for older people (55+)
• Wellbeing Services in the Community for people with dementia and their families
• Wellbeing Services in the Community for people with a physical disability

The new service will be commissioned through a single procurement exercise comprising four lots, operating under a Strategic Partner and Service Delivery Network model. It will provide support for people aged 55 and over, adults with physical disabilities, and people living with dementia and their families.

Background

Community Wellbeing Services aims to help people take a proactive approach to their health and wellbeing, increase independence, and prevent, reduce or delay the need for statutory services. This is achieved via support which includes, but is not limited to: peer groups, physical activities, providing information (e.g. about support in the local community and how to manage money and benefits), supporting people to live safely in their own home, and maintaining and adapting an individual’s home to their needs with low level trusted assessor equipment.

These services form part of Kent County Council’s (KCC) wider prevention offer and contribute to reducing demand for statutory services by intervening early and supporting people to manage their wellbeing before needs escalate.

It is estimated that these services supported around 41,500 Kent residents during 2025. Many people accessing the service have multiple and interconnected needs associated with older age, dementia, long-term health conditions, and physical disabilities demonstrating the importance of coordinated community-based support.

As demand for adult social care continues to increase, the Council must strengthen its focus on prevention, early intervention, community resilience and support people to remain independent for longer. Community Wellbeing Services will play a key role in delivering this ambition by providing accessible community support that helps prevent, reduce or delay needs for formal care and support, contributing to improved outcomes for residents and supporting the long-term sustainability and value for money of adult social care services.

The new Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia has been co-designed with Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, staff, partners, and Kent residents. Extensive market engagement has informed the service model, ensuring it reflects local needs, builds on community strengths and supports the Councils strategic ambitions for prevention and community support.

The recommissioning does not propose any reduction in eligibility, access or availability of support for current or future people who access the services.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

Option 1 Do nothing / allow contract to expire

This would risk non-compliance with the Council’s statutory duties and remove a key part of the Council’ s prevention offer increasing the demand on statutory adult social care services.

Option 2 Bring service in-house

While an in-house offer could provide greater direct control, it would require significant investment, workforce recruitment, infrastructure and operational capacity. It could also reduce VCSE sector capacity, flexibility and community reach.

Option 3 Re-procure as three standalone services with separate contracts

Not recommended for older people, dementia and physical disability services, as separate contracts could create confusing referral routes, duplication and hand-offs for people with overlapping needs.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

This proposed decision supports the ambitions set out in Reforming Kent 2025–2028 by helping residents to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives within their communities.

It also supports the Council's Prevention Framework by helping to prevent, reduce or delay the development of needs for care and support, reducing reliance on more intensive statutory services wherever possible by providing early intervention and preventative support enabling people to maintain independence, build resilience and remain connected to their local communities.

By investing in preventative services, the Council aims to improve wellbeing, reduce social isolation, support community participation and deliver value for money through earlier intervention and reduced demand for higher-cost services.

Financial Implications

The total estimated cost of recommissioning the new Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia is £2.62m per annum. The contract will be awarded for an initial period of two years, with options to extend for two further periods of one year each, providing flexibility in response to Local Government Reorganisation. The lifetime value of the contract (2 years plus extensions) would be approximately £10.48m. This is within the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The cost of the six-month extension (1 April 2027 to 30 September 2027) to the current contracts is estimated to cost £1.42m.

Should additional external funding become available within the lifetime of this decision, it is proposed that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Adult Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and the Section 151 Officer, to accept and deploy such funding to enhance the approved service.

Legal Implications

The Council has statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 to promote individual wellbeing and to take steps to prevent, reduce or delay the development of needs for care and support. The proposed Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia contributes to the discharge of these duties by providing preventative support that helps people maintain independence and wellbeing.

The Council also has a duty to consider the sustainability of the care and support market when exercising its functions under the Care Act 2014. The proposed commissioning approach seeks to support a sustainable VCSE market whilst securing value for money and continuity of preventative services for Kent residents.

The proposed six month extension to the current contracts will be undertaken in accordance with Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to support procurement and mobilisation of the new service. The subsequent recommissioning of the service will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, with appropriate procurement and legal support to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.