Agenda item

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 Cabinet in March 2019.