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The Council has approved the decision to
procure a new Cumberland. Microenterprise Service on a 1-year term
with two optional 12 months extensions at a total value of
£303k. The service will focus on finding people with the
skills, experience and passion to set up a care/prevention focused
microenterprise. With the winning provider (following a mini
competition) supporting individuals to set up a care
microenterprise making sure they have the right processes,
policies, insurances, qualifications and experience in place to
operate a well-run lawful enterprise.

Reasons for the decision

The permission to procure a new Cumberland
Microenterprise Service has been approve for the following
reasons:
 

To promote customer choice allowing
customers to source their own personal care by expanding the
network of care focus microenterprises in operation within
Cumberland.
To provide care for customers
leaving in rural communities where independent market provision is
limited.
To focus on developing new
prevention focused service which aim to promote and maintain
customers independence and mental and physical wellbeing. So,
people remain, living in their homes in good health for
longer.   

 

Alternative options considered

A number of alternative commissioning options
were considered as follows:
 
Option 2 Choose not to support a new
Microenterprise service in Cumberland from 02/08/2025 relying on
the existing microenterprises operating in 288 customers delivering
1308 of care hours a week, to continue without the support of a
local officer.
 
Option 2 is not recommended as the
existing Microenterprise service does not cover the entirety of
Cumberland and would not be able to grow existing capacity and the
loss of a local Officer to network and support the existing
Microenterprises would likely see Microenterprises exiting the
market.
 
Option 3 bring the service inhouse,
employing a local Officer to support the existing network of care
microenterprises and to find, support and train individuals with a
passion for care to set up as new care and prevention
microenterprise within their local communities to meet Cumberland
customers care and support needs.
 
Option 3 is not recommended as the
Council does not currently have access to a defined training
programme or to a national network of microenterprises from which
to learn from and share good and innovative practice. The Council
would also need to develop a bespoke social media offer to attract
interest from people with the skills to set up their own care
microenterprise and then to promote their services to customers
looking to find a personal carer.