Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Well-Being considered the report which noted that Community Equipment supported vulnerable people to remain independent for longer improving their outcomes and reducing the need for more formal and costly care.

It was noted that, to enable the best value for money in purchasing commuminty equipment, mainly due to economies of scale, Haringey joined the London Consortium for the provision of Community Equipment. Haringey jointly tendered and awarded the contract to Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd (‘Medequip’) through a framework contract (“the Framework”). At present the Consortium consisted of 21 London Boroughs out of 33. The only borough delivering in house equipment store was Enfield.

The 4-year Framework with Medequip was agreed at Cabinet in February 2017 (taking the contract to 2021) with the option to extend for 1+1 years (to March 2023). Both extension periods had been agreed by the consortium.

Since then, additional services had benefitted from access to this contract, increasing the volume of equipment being supplied and therefore the associated value of the contract. The additional services include Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), the Paediatric Therapy Team at Whittington Health and the Community Alarm Team (CAS) which all procured their community equipment stock through this contract. In addition, there had been increased demand for community equipment from the contract during the pandemic.

This increased activity would result in there being insufficient budget reflected in the contract for the financial year 2022-23 and there was a need to increase the total contract value by £1.1 million, from £10.8 million to £11.9 million.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

To approve the increase in the value of the Framework with Medequip by £1.1 million for the remainder of the contract term to March 31 2023, in accordance with Contract Standing Order 10.02.1(b).

Reasons for decision

Cabinet originally approved the award of the Framework in March 2017 for the initial period of 4 years with an option to extend for 2 years at a total value of some £7.2 million. In February 2020 Cabinet approved a contract extension to March 2023, and variation to increase the contract value to £10.8 million.

Since the contract extension in February 2020, the Covid pandemic has affected all areas of life, leading to unprecedented demand for use of the community equipment service which has continued to meet the challenge. The increased demand and other factors set out below resulted in 20% higher spending through the contract by the 5 services in 2020-21, up from £1.77 million to just under £2.2 million As an example, average monthly spending through the contract increased to £177,000 in 2020/21 and has increased again to £193,000 in the first 6 months of 2021-22.

The other factors leading to increased costs include:

An increase in community equipment prices. From April 1st 2021, 520 Medequip stock items had a price increase whilst 420 remained the same. The net effect was a 2.7% price increase. The price rises were driven by large increases  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Well-Being considered the report which sought seek authorisation for a direct contract award under Contract Standing Order 16.02 in line with CSO 9.01.2 (g), negotiation without publication of an advertisement, to Magicare Ltd T/A Priscilla Wakefield House for the provision of 8 Intermediate Care Nursing beds.

The report also detailed the Council’s requirement for Nursing Intermediate Care provision and demonstrated that these specialist nursing beds were an essential element of Haringey’s intermediate care pathway, which is made up of a range of integrated care services that aim to support residents at risk of an unnecessary hospital admission and to support patients to increase their independence following hospital admission.

The Cabinet Member enquired whether alternative providers had been considered. The Commissioning Officer noted that this had been considered but highlighted that Priscilla Wakefield House, run by Magicare Ltd, was currently the only Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered nursing care home in the borough and that in-borough delivery of the service was key for the patients and their families. It was added that the beds were supported by a dedicated Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) which also operated from Priscilla Wakefield House. It was noted that, if there were to be a tender, this would be open to bids from out of borough and it was considered that, given the key role of the MDT, this would impact on the viability of the bids.

In relation to queries about staffing pay and conditions, the Commissioning Officer noted that Priscilla Wakefield House currently offered the National Living Wage and officers were working with the provider to move towards the London Living Wage. It was noted that it was aimed to phase this process in order to ensure that it was sustainable. It was added that there was currently an increased degree of uncertainty, including fuel costs, and so the phased approach was considered the most appropriate and deliverable option.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1.    Pursuant to CSOs 9.07.1(d and e) and 16.02, to approve the award of contract to Magicare Ltd for the provision of eight (8) Nursing Intermediate Care Service beds for a period of three (3) years, from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025 with the option to extend for up to two (2) years, up to a maximum contract value of £2,288,000.

2.    To give delegated authority to the Director of Adults and Health to agree the final sum for the service within the upper limit referred to above.

Reasons for decision

Evidence from the 2015 National Audit of Intermediate Care shows that intermediate care services are key to reducing the financial, quality and activity pressures being experienced in secondary care and the social care sector.

There is a very limited market for nursing beds in the local area. Priscilla Wakefield House (PWH), run by Magicare Ltd, is currently the only Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered nursing care home in the borough with a bed base of 117 Nursing beds.

The award of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 170.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Well-Being considered the report which sought Cabinet approval to implement Contract Standing Order 10.02.1b, to vary and extend the contract for the Community Navigator Service for Older people in Haringey (Reach & Connect) with Public Voice for a period of 2 years.

The Cabinet Member noted the importance of ensuring that various services, such as the Reach & Connect and Information & Advice Service, were connected and were providing the best possible results for residents. She added that this included the information that was provided to residents, both directly and on the Council’s website. The Assistant Director for Commissioning acknowledged the points made and noted that links between services and capacity building opportunities were being considered. It was explained that there was a request to extend the Reach & Connect Service whilst a more comprehensive review on community navigators was being undertaken.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1.    To approve the variation and extension of contract for the Community Navigator Service for Older People in Haringey (Reach & Connect), held by Public Voice, as allowed under Contract Standing Order 10.02.1b as follows:

·         Year 4 (1 May 2022 to 30 April 2023) – £391,670

·         Year 5 (1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024) - £401,670

·         Which is a total extension value of £793,340

2.    The aggregated value of the contract period from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2024 is £2,041,440.

3.    Funding for this extension will be from the Council’s Housing Related Support general fund budget, in Adults and Health.

4.    The contract was re-negotiated with Public Voice for the duration of the variation and extension period as shown in 6.13 of the report.

Reasons for decision

The service enables older people in the borough to continue living independently in their own homes and prevent escalation in care needs and hospital admissions.

Performance has been evaluated as good throughout the contract period. Performance returns are completed and submitted on time and targets are met. There is a demonstrable need for this service in Haringey and the services are evidently delivering positive outcomes for older residents. Therefore, it is in residents and the Council’s overall interest to continue to provide these much-needed older people services in Haringey.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: It would be possible to leave the contract to cease at the end of this contract period, however there is continued high demand for this service, and it continues to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable people. Therefore, it would not be in the council’s interest to end this contract at this time.

In-house provision was considered and was found not to be suitable for delivery of this service, as there is not currently the expertise within the Council to provide this service.

Consideration was given to the completion of a procurement exercise via an open tender process. However, this option was discounted because the Council was able to enter into negotiations with the current provider and use the option to extend the contract which was agreed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 171.