Purpose

Adult Social Care (ASC) commissions a third-party organisation to provide support for unpaid carers aged 18 and over. The current contract has been in place since 2022, expires in June 2027. It is proposed that ASC extends the contract to enable further stakeholder engagement through development and deliver of the All-Age Carers Strategy (AACS) action plan, due to be completed by the end of 2026/27. The AACS set out our commitments and areas for improvement for unpaid carers in the City. An extension would also provide time to explore joint commissioning opportunities with Children's Social Care and South Gloucestershire Council. Joint commissioning could improve outcomes and experiences for carers while delivering greater service integration and efficiencies. This proposal also includes a proposed inflationary uplift, funded via carers operational budgets which has been budgeted for.

Decision

To modify the existing carers support contract for 12 months, until 30th June 2028.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Do Not Extend the Current Contract and Recommission for July 2027. Rejected. This option would not provide sufficient time to evaluate and embed learning from the All-Age Carers Strategy (AACS) into future commissioning arrangements. It would risk undermining delivery of the Strategy's priorities and limit opportunities to improve outcomes for carers. It would also reduce the opportunity to explore joint commissioning with Children's Social Care and South Gloucestershire Council, resulting in a less informed and potentially less effective commissioning model.