Purpose

To approve the reprocurement of Herefordshire
Independant Adult Advocacy Services, bhy way of an open tender
process.

Decision

That:
a)   
the commissioning of an independent
advocacy service for adults through an open procurement process be
approved.
b)   
The contract will be for an initial
period of 5 years but with the option to extend for up to an
additional 24 months.
c)   
the director for adult and communities
be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to
implement the service including award of contract for the
independent advocacy service for a period of up to five years and
with a maximum value of £1.5m.
 

Alternative options considered

a)   
Not to commission the
advocacy service. This is not recommended
as this would mean the council will fail to meet statutory duties
in respect of Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983 as
amended, Health and Social Care Act 2012 and Care Act 2014. The
council is required to provide these services.

b)             
Deliver the service in
house. This option
is not recommended as all these advocacy elements are required to
be independent of local authorities and NHS Trusts. As the Care Act regulations stipulate, advocacy must be
independent of the local authority, operated by an organisation
with its own constitution, code of practice and complaints
procedure. Therefore, it is not appropriate to deliver this service
in-house and an external provider must be commissioned to deliver
advocacy services.