Purpose

To authorise a variation/extension of the current Domiciliary Care (“Dom Care”) Spot Contracts to ensure continuity of statutory care provision and maintain market stability until a new framework can be implemented.

Plymouth City Council (PCC) and NHS Devon jointly commission Dom Care services from 24 contracted providers. These providers currently deliver approximately 23,465 hours of care per week to 1,379 individuals (as at 25 March 2026) under the existing PCC Spot Contract.

Statutory responsibilities
Under the Care Act 2014, the Council has clear legal duties to:

Assess and meet eligible needs by arranging appropriate care and support, including homebased care.

Prevent, delay or reduce need, which includes enabling people to remain safely at home through Dom Care.

Commission and fund services where an individual’s financial assessment requires the Local Authority to do so.

Failure to secure sufficient Dom Care capacity would place the Council at risk of non-compliance with statutory duties and undermine its ability to safeguard residents.

Rationale for varying/extending the Spot Contracts
Extending the current Dom Care Spot Contracts is necessary to:

Protect vulnerable residents who rely on regular, timecritical support to remain safe, maintain dignity, and meet essential daily living needs.

Avoid disruption to 1,379 existing care packages, which could result in unmet needs, safeguarding risks, hospital admissions, and system-wide pressures.

Provide a stable commissioning position while the Council progresses work to establish a new Dom Care framework for implementation during 2026/27.

Prevent market destabilisation, ensuring provider continuity and maintaining sufficient capacity during the transition to the new procurement model.

This variation is therefore required both to meet statutory Care Act obligations and to ensure safe, uninterrupted service delivery during the commissioning transition period.