Issue - meetings

This report is seeking approval to re-tender a homecare framework for Adult Social Care, as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve inviting tenders for a homecare framework for services for adults with disabilities on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.

(2)    To approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.

(3)    To approve the contractual period for homecare framework as two years, with an option to extend for periods of up to a further two years.

(4)    To agree that funding is made available to pay homecare workers under the homecare framework at the London Living Wage from year 1 of the contract.

(5)    To delegate authority to award the homecare framework to the Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care.

(6)    As an additional recommendation, to consider how user feedback could be incorporated as part of the quality standards and annual review process for the framework set out within section 3.14 of the report.

Councillor Nerva (Cabinet member for Public Health and Adult Social Care) introduced a report seeking approval to re-tender the homecare framework for Adult Social Care.

In considering the report, Cabinet noted the basis of the new homecare model which had been approved in November 2019 and reasons why the homecare framework element had not been awarded as part of the original main contract award.  Recognising the need to provide as much flexibility as possible in terms of managing demand and capacity within the market, the re-tender of the homecare framework had been designed to supplement the patch based model for homecare already implemented.  Members recognised the capacity building support provided for local providers in seeking to qualify for the framework as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to support local business, with it noted that the evaluation criteria would involve assessment on the basis of 90% quality and 10% social value.  In addition, Cabinet welcomed the commitment as part of implementation of the framework on providers paying care workers the London Living Wage as a minimum and working to the standards set out within the Unison Care Charter, which had been designed to reflect the value of social care work in the borough.

In terms of performance management, members were also advised of the annual review process for providers included under the framework, with members keen to consider how user feedback could also be incorporated as part of the quality standards and annual review process.

Members were supportive of the approach outlined and as a result it was RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve inviting tenders for a homecare framework for services for adults with disabilities on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.

(2)     To approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.

(3)     To approve the contractual period for homecare framework as two years, with an option to extend for periods of up to a further two years.

(4)     To agree that funding is made available to pay homecare workers under the homecare framework at the London Living Wage from year 1 of the contract.

(5)     To delegate authority to award the homecare framework to the Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care.

(6)     As an additional recommendation, to consider how user feedback could be incorporated as part of the quality standards and annual review process for the framework set out within section 3.14 of the report.