Decision

Decision:
 
For the reasons set out in the report and its
appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:
 

i) 
Procure a multi-category DPV for Social Care Assessments with a
term of four years with the option to extend for a further four
years - at an estimated annual value of up to £6.3m
(£50.4m over the eight years). For Newham the value is up to
£900,000 per annum (£7.2m over the eight years);

ii) 
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adults and Health
in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social
Care to admit Providers onto the DPV that meet the minimum quality
standards in the first round and throughout the life of the
DPV;

iii) 
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adults and Health
in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social
Care to approve commencement of mini-competitions under the DPV and
award contracts once the DPV is established;

iv) 
Extend the Children’s and Young People’s Services DPV
for Home Care from the 01.06.2025 to the 11.07.2025;

v) 
Procure a new multi-lot all-age ILSS light touch Framework
Agreement with an initial term of four years with the option to
extend for up to four 4 years in two year extension periods
(maximum term eight years) at an estimated annual value of
£31.8m (£254.4m over the eight years);

vi) 
The transfer of £500,000 held in the budget for the
implementation of the London Living Wage (LLW) to Children and
Young People’s Services to enable the Adults and Health ILSS
rate to be paid to Providers awarded an all-age contract (noting
the opportunities for savings in an all-age approach).
 
Alternatives Considered:
 

a) 
For Social Care Assessments and Reviews, the lead-Commissioner
has:

· offered overtime to current staff - this
isn’t feasible given the volume of work and staff already
have high caseloads.

· sought to employ agency staff - the Team
has experienced difficulties in recruiting agency staff to fill
current vacancies and must also observe corporate limits on open
agency assignments.

b) 
For Home Care, the lead-Commissioner has explored a
joint-commissioning approach with neighbouring boroughs; however,
they have advised that their preference is to have Providers with
local knowledge and a base in their borough, therefore a joint
exercise was not of interest. There are no External Business Units
currently interested in, or suitable to deliver this Service.