Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

(a)              That, the current performance and the importance of the Recovery & Community Resilience contracts in the operation of the local urgent and emergency care system, be noted

(b)              That the use of the direct award process C under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR23), be approved, to award five contracts to the existing providers in order to continue the existing Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) service; and

(c)               That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Adults & Housing, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, to make all necessary arrangements to give effect to the direct award to the existing providers.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council was the Lead Commissioner, on behalf of the Dorset Integrated Care System, for the Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) contracts, which were funded in the main from NHS Contributions via the Better Care Fund.  This was a critical service to avoid bed blocking with knock-on effects for the Integrated Care Board and the Council. There was an essential requirement to have established contract provision in place.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care introduced the report. The FutureCare Programme was being used to reduce the length of stay in hospitals and to review how these services operate However, the contracts were due to expire with no further options for extension. It was critical, that the services are maintained whilst the longer-term plans are finalised. This paper requested permission for a direct award of a further contract to existing providers, pending the outcome of longer-term transformation planning.

The Cabinet Member apologised for the item being added late to the Forward Plan and thanked the Chair and Vice-Chair of the People and Health Scrutiny Committee.

A member questioned why there was no other option than to award a direct contract. The Cabinet Member explained that changes through the FutureCare programme were still being finalised and at the current time it was the best option financially and operationally. There would be a full tender for the contract when the outcomes of the FutureCare programme were known.

It was proposed by Cllr S Robinson and seconded by Cllr N Ireland.

Decision:

(a)  That, the current performance and the importance of the Recovery & Community Resilience contracts in the operation of the local urgent and emergency care system, be noted

(b)  That the use of the direct award process C under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR23), be approved, to award five contracts to the existing providers in order to continue the existing Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) service; and

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Adults & Housing, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, to make all necessary arrangements to give effect to the direct award to the existing providers.

Reason for the decision:

Dorset Council was the Lead Commissioner, on behalf of the Dorset Integrated Care System, for the Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) contracts, which were funded in the main from NHS Contributions via the Better Care Fund.  This was a critical service to avoid bed blocking with knock-on effects for the Integrated Care Board and the Council. There was an essential requirement to have established contract provision in place.