Issue - meetings
Commissioning Carer Services
Meeting: 17/10/2011 - Executive (Item 8)
8 Commissioning Carer Services PDF 130 KB
This report sets out proposals to integrate Adult, Children and Families and NHS Brent/GP Clinical Commissioning Group for the procurement of services to carers. We recommend a joint framework agreement for the provision of respite and support services to carers of children with disabilities and for carers of adults with disabilities and long term health conditions.
Decision:
(i) that approval be given to an exemption in accordance with Contract Standing Order 84(a) from the usual tendering requirements of Standing Orders to extend the carer services contracts (Adult Social Care) for eight (8) months on the basis of good operational and financial reasons as set out in paragraph 3.7-3.11 of the report;
(ii) that approval be given to the eight (8) month extension of the carer services contracts with the providers referred to in paragraph 4.3 of the report;
(iii) that approval be given for Adult Social Care and Children & Families department to undertake a wide ranging joint review of carer services in consultation with NHS Brent and carers to identify the type of services needed to support carers into the future that provides quality, value for money and take account of the impending changes in Health and the development of GP Consortia commissioning arrangements;
(iv) that officers’ intentions to develop a joint framework agreement following the review of services, with anticipated call-off under the framework from May 2012 be noted;
(v) that approval be given for the Children and Families Department to integrate their procurement into this joint framework agreement.
Minutes:
Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Adults and Health) reminded the Executive that a report was approved on 15 February 2011 extending the S.75 Partnership Agreement with NHS Brent for the period 2011 – 2013. In addition, approval was given to enter into contracts on a one year basis for the provision of adult respite carer services by way of an exemption from the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders. Councillor Moher reported that changes in the health field now presented a further opportunity for improvements and the report before members set out proposals to integrate Adults, Children and Families and NHS Brent/GP Clinical Commissioning Group for the procurement of services to carers with a recommendation for a joint framework agreement for the provision of respite and support services to carers of children with disabilities and for carers of adults with disabilities and long term health conditions. Councillor Moher made reference to the risks outlined in the report in extending the existing suite of respite support services contracts to other providers in the market which needed to be balanced against the need for officers to carry out proper consultation with stakeholders and health services, which would form the basis of the services specification when the new framework was put out to public tender. An exemption from standing orders was required to allow more time for market testing.
Councillor Moher commended the recommendations in the report to the Executive.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that approval be given to an exemption in accordance with Contract Standing Order 84(a) from the usual tendering requirements of Standing Orders to extend the carer services contracts (Adult Social Care) for eight months on the basis of good operational and financial reasons as set out in paragraph 3.7-3.11 of the report from the Director of Adult Social Services;
(ii) that approval be given to the eight month extension of the carer services contracts with the providers referred to in paragraph 4.3 of the report;
(iii) that approval be given for the Adult Social Care and Children and Families departments to undertake a wide ranging joint review of carer services in consultation with NHS Brent and carers to identify the type of services needed to support carers into the future that provides quality, value for money and take account of the impending changes in Health and the development of GP Consortia commissioning arrangements;
(iv) that officers’ intentions to develop a joint framework agreement following the review of services, with anticipated call-off under the framework from May 2012 be noted;
(v) that approval be given for the Children and Families Department integrating their procurement into the joint framework agreement.