Purpose

To seek approval to revise the procurement route that was approved under a Cabinet Decision dated 17th September 2025 to secure a contract for the supply of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessment services that will increase the council’s capacity to manage DoLS applications.

Decision

In coming to this decision I have given due and full regard to the requirements of the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) by reference to the law itself.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

1. Approve, without further competition, the award of a call off contract under the Eastern Shires Procurement Organisation 3S-22 Strategic HR Services Framework to the preferred supplier, Eden Brown Limited (trading as Eden Brown Synergy), under which it shall supply DoLS assessment services. The call-off contract award shall be made in accordance with the direct contract award criteria of the Framework Agreement and continue for an initial period of one year. The call-off contract shall also include an option to extend its term for a further period of one year (i.e. 1+1 years); and

1. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Support and Independence to exercise the above one-year extension option subject to satisfactory performance and continued service need. The above recommendations, if approved, will replace the Cabinet decision dated 17th September 2025 under which Cabinet approval was given to conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of the above services.

For the reasons set out in the report.