Issue - meetings

Mr Simon Mitchell, Senior Commissioner, was in attendance for this item.   

1. Mr Mitchel introduced the report. It was noted that the proposal was for a 3-year period with two single-year extensions. About £1.6 million per year, totalling £7.8 million. It was said that the contract would be amended depending on the outcome of the Liberty Protection Safeguards. 

2. Mr Mitchell responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following. 

(a) There was no timescale for the Liberty Protection Safeguards publication. 

(b) It was confirmed that the specification would ensure that providers ensured their advocates were trained to deliver the services required under the contract. The Council would have the ability to audit and scrutinise this process. 

RESOLVED that the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health to:

(a) Extend the current Kent Advocacy Hub and Mental Health Assessment contracts for a period of up to four months; 

(b) Award contracts to successful providers for the provision of Community Services Contracts (Mental Health Assessment and Independent Advocacy Services); 

(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; and 

(d) Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director Finance, to agree the relevant contract extensions as required.