Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children). The report seeks approval to an award of framework agreement for short breaks and other services for children and young people with disabilities and their families.

Cabinet considered a report, presented by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, which sought approval to award the framework for Short Breaks and other services in line with Contract Standing Order 9.7.1 d) following a transparent and robust tendering process.

RESOLVED:

1. That an award of a framework agreement to the successful tenders list, detailed in the exempt part of the report, be approved, in accordance with Contract Standing Order  9.7.1 d); and

2. That the framework agreement to be awarded for a period of three years with an option to extend for a further period of up to one year in accordance with the terms and conditions of the framework agreement.

Alternative Options Considered

Keep current model of service delivery - currently we have block contract in place for the delivery of short breaks. This commits the council to purchasing all contracted places and covering the cost of any voids.

The new model will be a framework of providers who can deliver a range of services on an hourly rate model. The framework does not commit the Council to purchase any level of service and will be available for clients who receive Direct Payments to purchase from.

The option to award contracts to provide a range of short break services was considered and was included in the consultation process with families and providers. This would have resulted in a similar delivery method to the current system which comes to an end in March 2013.

This approach has been successful but increasingly parents/carers are requesting Direct Payments so that they can choose the service they what at the times that suits them and their child’s individual needs. There is therefore less funding available to award contracts to the same level. Further, it is difficult to predict the balance between families opting for contracted services and those wanting to manage their own budgets.

Adults Services have successfully introduced a personalisation programme for young people on transfer to their services at 18 years. This involves the allocation of personal budgets and the young people determining their own support plan. A pilot for personal budgets for young people who meet the continuing health care criteria is also underway. Families reported that they wanted to see initiatives that would streamline processes through the transition process for their young people.

Another factor considered in the consultation process is the indications from the Green Paper ‘Support and Aspiration’ that parents/carers will have more choice and control over their child’s education, health and care plans, including personal budgets.

Careful consideration was given to all these factors and the responses from consultation with parent/carers and providers. It was therefore decided to build on the best of current practice by having a range of Short Break providers which met the Council’s standards combined with awarding families a personal budget so that they choose their service.

Families will have the option to manage their personal budgets themselves but if they choose, the Additional Needs and Disabilities Service will purchase  ...  view the full minutes text for item 345