Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, was scheduled to discuss the commissioning of a dementia support service, and to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Members of the public were able to attend the meeting in person or online.

Dementia Support Service

Councillor Tim Bearder was asked to consider a proposal to commission a dementia support service with funding from the Buckinghamshire Oxford and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB).

The report pack stated that the Cabinet Member was recommended to:

• Approve the proposal for Adult Social Care to commission a dementia support service through a procurement exercise and transition to a new ten year contract on a five-year plus five-year basis from 1 January 2026 (pooled budget £913,623 per year).
• Delegate to the Director for Adult Social Care authority to manage the service design and approve the award of contract in consultation with the Head of Legal and Governance and the Director of Finance.

The report noted that the population is ageing, and that the prevalence of dementia roughly doubles with every five-year increase in older age. It stated that, according to the Dementia Diagnosis Rate report for September 2024, Oxfordshire has 6,093 people diagnosed with dementia aged over 65 with an estimated 9,662 that might have dementia, and that the need to improve and develop services for people with dementia has received an increasing level of national and government attention.

The council and NHS are responsible for ensuring that sustainable, high-quality care and support services are available for adults and their unpaid carers who are in need of meaningful care and support, under the Care Act 2014¹.

There are currently two contracts with Age UK Oxfordshire² which support people living with dementia, their unpaid carers and also people with Mild Cognitive Impairment or memory difficulties. These two contracts expire on 31 December 2025, and are funded from the Age Well pooled budget by the council and the BOB ICB, totalling £820,123 per year.

The report pack included the Dementia Oxfordshire Impact Report 2024, which stated that the services have seen consistent growth in the number of people being supported, in the region of 10% year-on-year, and that the data suggests that demand will continue to rise.

The report stated that there is an NHS national target to deliver dementia diagnosis to a minimum of 66.7% of the assumed prevalent population, and that this target is adopted within the Oxfordshire Health & Wellbeing Strategy. Currently, Oxfordshire's performance is 63.1%. Dementia support services are part of the delivery of this target: the existence of post-diagnostic support is a key element in encouraging people to seek an early diagnosis.

The report pack stated that the council and BOB ICB have co-produced a new model of service, with the overall aim to empower and support people concerned about their memory, diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or dementia, their unpaid carers, and wider family, to live their lives as independently, successfully and safely as possible for as long as possible within their communities. The service will be extended in the new model to include Admiral Nurse support³.

The report pack stated that the intention is to go out to tender and the new service will start on 1 January 2026, for five years plus an option to extend for a further five years. Included in the contract will be a break clause giving the council the right to terminate the contract at any time by giving not less than 6 months' notice.

Two options were presented:

• Option 1: Do nothing and allow the dementia contracts to end on 31 December 2025.
• Option 2: Retender. The council commissions a co-produced (with BOB ICB) dementia support service through a procurement exercise and transition to a new ten-year contract (on a five-by-five-year basis) with a proposed commencement date from 1 January 2026 (including funding for an Admiral Nurse), in line with the new Mental Health Contract which incorporates older adult community and in-patient mental health care.

The preferred option was Option 2, as this would allow the council to complete a fair exercise to commission a service which will deliver value for money and meet the specification.

The current budget for 2025-26 from the Age Well pooled budget is £820,123. It was proposed to increase the budget by £33,500 (4.1%) to account for inflationary pressures experienced by providers, and to include a price review clause where inflation uplift is considered on an annual basis. It was also proposed to increase the budget further by £60,000 for one Admiral Nurse as part of the new service.

The total cost for a contract up to ten years would be £9,136,230, which includes one Admiral Nurse at £60,000 per year. The total cost to the council for this would be £6,936,600, an increase of £56,000 per year for the council.

The ICB confirmed the commitment of funding to support this procurement at its Executive Expenditure review group on 9 June.

The report pack stated that the service will be part of the Memory Assessment and Diagnostic Pathway, and will deliver the following outcomes:

• Provide individuals with local information by maintaining an up-to-date website and social media platforms for the Dementia Support Service and other forms of communication including attendance at events to enhance knowledge and help to avoid duplication.
• Engage with individuals that don't usually access support with memory concerns or dementia to reduce stigma and improve awareness.
• Increase awareness and reduce stigma and health inequalities.
• Increase understanding of memory concerns and dementia through training and group opportunities.
• Increase awareness of the benefits of an early diagnosis.
• Promote support available across Oxfordshire for those with memory concerns or dementia and their unpaid carers.
• Prolong the time that those with dementia can stay at home.
• A clear referral pathway for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, memory difficulties or waiting for a dementia diagnosis.
• Well established links between Dementia and Memory Advisers and GP practices and Primary Care Networks.
• GPs more aware of pre- and post-diagnostic support services.
• Supporting GP practices and Primary Care Networks to promote awareness and information to provide a coordinated pathway of care.
• Reduce the use of statutory services such as primary and secondary healthcare, hospitals and Adult Social Care.

The Key Performance Indicators in the new model will include:

• Increase in capacity, providing support to people in the community who may not be receiving any.
• Reduction in hospital admissions, leading to significant cost savings for the healthcare system.
• Shorter hospital stays, causing less distress for person living with dementia and cost savings for healthcare system.
• Delayed admission to care home, leading to long-term savings for Adult Social Care.
• Support for unpaid carers, preventing additional healthcare costs related to unpaid carer health issues.
• Addressing health inequalities, promoting dementia risk reduction.

The recommissioning of the Dementia Support Service for a further ten years aligns with the council's Strategic Plan 2023-2025:

• Commitment to tackle inequalities in Oxfordshire
• Prioritise the health and wellbeing of residents
• Support carers and the social care system.

The Dementia Support Service also aligns with the Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2030, through supporting people to stay well and independent, enjoying better health and wellbeing for longer – and interventions delivered as early as possible when needed.

The funding required for the ten-year contract from 1 January 2026 has been identified by Oxfordshire County Council, and approved by the BOB Integrated Care Board on 9 June 2025.

Under the Care Act 2014, the council and NHS are responsible for ensuring that every person diagnosed with dementia receives meaningful care, and requires us to develop sustainable, high-quality care and support services.

The procurement will be carried out as a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023⁴ and is a light touch contract as defined within the Act.

TUPE⁵ information has been requested from the existing provider and will be reviewed for any council pensions or other financial risks. The information will be provided to bidders, who will be required to separate out TUPE costs as part of their bids should these costs not materialise.

With equality and diversity issues at the forefront, the service model has been designed and co-produced with people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. Feedback has been sought about what is working and what isn't and this has helped shape the design of the new service model. The impact of the future service will be monitored and evaluated to ensure that it is making a positive difference to people living with dementia and their unpaid carers and helping them to continue living in the community.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Councillor Tim Bearder was asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2025 as an accurate record of proceedings.