Purpose

East Sussex County Council currently supports
adults with Care Act eligible needs via a contract with a
third-party provider; however, there is an imminent risk of
provider failure.

Given the nature of the service, any break in provision and service
continuity would place adults at risk, increase delayed hospital
discharges and result in increased ambulance conveyance and
hospital admissions.

It is therefore essential that the Council make arrangements for
alternative service provision (if required) to ensure continuity of
service for a significant cohort of vulnerable adults.

Decision

Appointment of an alternative service provider
has been approved following confirmation by an existing provider
that they can no longer deliver the required services.

Alternative options considered

Consideration has been given at a national
level to provide additional financial assistance to the provider
however this was deemed to be unviable.

Consideration has been given to bringing the service in-house. This
was rejected on the grounds that there was insufficient capacity
and expertise to establish an in-house service.

The preferred option would enable uninterrupted service provision
by a provider with the knowledge and expertise required to ensure
safe transition and subsequent service delivery.