Agenda item

The report will seek Cabinet Member approval for a waiver of the requirement to tender under Contract Standing Order (CSO) 10.01.2 d (ii) and the award of a 12 month block contract, up to the value of £430,000, to One Housing Group to pilot a reablement service as part of their extra care sheltered scheme in Protheroe House.

Cabinet Member approval was sought to establish a pilot reablement service as part of a new extra care sheltered scheme in Protheroe House. The Cabinet member was asked to agree a waiver to CSO10.01.2 d (ii) and approve the award of a 12 month block contract.

RESOLVED

      I.        To approve a waiver of CSO 9.01 (requirement to follow an appropriate (tender) advertisement) in accordance with CSO 10.01.1(a) on the grounds set out in CSO 10.01.2 d (ii) as it is in the Council’s overall interest to grant the waiver and invest in this pilot as outlined in the report; and

    II.        To approve the award of a 12 month block contract, up to the value of £430,000, to One Housing Group to pilot a reablement service as part of their extra care sheltered scheme in Protheroe House.

Reasons for decision

The Council is in the process of developing its intermediate care provision jointly with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). 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 service sector. It has been estimated that the potential savings from the 10 reablement beds, compared to continuing with our existing step down care provision, is £28,480 in year 1 (part year) and £333,216 in year 2. Intermediate care services are also critical to improving outcomes for residents and enabling them to live independently for longer in their own homes, especially where they have had a period in hospital.

In line with the joint Intermediate Care Strategy, Haringey Council and OHG intend to work together to pilot a reablement service that will be part of the extra care scheme in Protheroe House. OHG run a similar model in Camden which has been highly effective and enabled people to return home to independent living following a period of intensive reablement support. This approach will enable the Council to test demand and the effectiveness of the service before going out to tender for a long term service.

As the reablement service will be part of the extra care scheme, it will enable the Council to review the number of beds, every 3 months, and adjust the number of beds required for the future based on need. In the event of over capacity, excess units will be converted into extra care sheltered units, which are paid for through personal budgets.

The Haringey and Islington Wellbeing Partnership have prioritised intermediate care as an area for working together across the two boroughs. This 12 month contract to support the pilot will enable us to finalise capacity requirements for bed-based intermediate care provision going forward before committing to a contract.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing – this would mean that we would continue to provide step down on a spot purchase basis with providers who may not have an effective track record of delivering reablement. Current bed based provision is not cost effective and leads to higher than average permanent residential and nursing placements compared to other London boroughs. 

Go out to tender – we do not have the necessary data required in order to be able to go out to tender and commit to a long term contract. The 12 month pilot with OHG will enable us to test the need and effectiveness of this model and to finalise our options for intermediate care.