North Yorkshire County Council
Health and Adult Services
Executive Members Meeting
16 September 2022
REPORT TO Corporate Director of Health and Adult Services (HAS) in consultation with Executive Member for Health and Adult Services
CARERS SHORT BREAK/SITTING SERVICE
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1.0 Purpose Of Report
Approval is sought to authorise a contract extension of 6 months to allow
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2.0 Issues for consideration
The existing Carers Short Break/Sitting Service contract terminates on 31/3/2023, with no further clauses to extend within the existing contract. The service commenced on 1st April 2018 and the original term ran to 31 March 2021. There is a 2-year extension clause built into the contract, which ends 31 March 2023. The service is split across 4 lots; Harrogate/Craven, Hambleton/ Richmondshire, Scarborough/Ryedale and Selby.
Key service Outcomes as identified in the original service specification
· Carers helped to cope with caring.
· Carers supported to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
· Carers enabled to take a break from caring.
· Carers enabled to take part in activities or to have an interest outside of their caring role and responsibilities
The Carers Break/Sitting Service is being reviewed within a wider context
· Alignment with overall Targeted Prevention offer - new strategic approach to prevention contracts, ‘wider’ wraparound Carers Support Service contract, Wellbeing and Prevention grants approach and Community Mental Health
· Refresh of Carers Strategy and development of Carers Alliance
· Aligning with introduction of new online HAS Carers pathway from Autumn 2022
· Ongoing development of Living Well offer
· Working within HAS 2025 Plan and new ASC quality assurance system
The current scheduled timeline seen below shows that all the development work for these areas is concentrated into a short period – which potentially risks the outcomes for all
· Carers pathway has been a long time in the approvals and preparation and is now at a critical development phase requiring concentrated Targeted Prevention and service input; including user experience /engagement during September.
· Wellbeing and Prevention – grants process to replace contracts from April 2023 has already been approved and to be successful the development and specification phase needs to happen in September/October to give providers and communities sufficient time to respond creatively, to make the most of the move to grants and to enable existing providers to mitigate the risk of contract termination
· Carers breaks/sitting service – this is the only area where there is the potential for shifting the timeline at low risk.
Some research, market engagement, user consultation and provider evaluation has been concluded already, leading to a number of possible service options. These have been considered by the Prevention and Service Development Leadership Team.
Approval is sought to authorise a contract extension of 6 months to allow
· Sufficient time for more specific follow-up engagement
· Consideration of market appetite for flexibility of service options
· Better alignment with the wider prevention context and the introduction of the new Approved Provider Lists in Nov 2022.
· Sufficient time to engage with the new Integrated Care Boards regarding ongoing NHS contributions.
Approval to this proposal was given by HASLT on 5 July 2022.
3.0 Performance Implications
The existing services are rated highly by carers and by many referrers as a valued community prevention service; although there are some limitations for people with higher levels of need or specific conditions. Covid has had some impact on service delivery models although this is now showing signs of recovery.
There are increased risks if we move to immediate procurement; it may not meet the needs and may simply be a continuation of the existing service model and there could be implementation of a new approach without having invested sufficient time for thorough consultation and market engagement that is traditionally associated with service redesign.
4.0 Financial Implications
It is proposed that, as a minimum, the existing NYCC budgetary contribution of £200,557.03 per annum is sustained. There is currently a funding contribution from NHS Commissioners.
5.0 Legal Implications and Governance compliance
Discussions have been held with NYCC Legal who have advised that based on the information supplied about contract value and spend; the extension would be permitted under regulation 72(5) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This permits extensions without the need to undertake a new procurement procedure if the value of the proposed extension is less than 10 % of the original contract value.
6.0 Equalities Implications
There no specific equalities implications associated with the report.
7.0 Climate Change Impact http://nyccintranet/content/climate-change-impact-assessment
There are no specific climate change impacts associated with this report.
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9.0 Recommendations
For HASEX to consider the proposal to extend the existing carers short breaks/sitting services contracts for the reasons set out above |
Author: Sally Anderson
Date: 2/9/22