Purpose

This notice covers both the tender process and contract award relating to the Homecare Framework.

The decision seeks approval to procure a new Homecare Open Framework for Plymouth, replacing the current reliance on spot purchasing arrangements with a compliant, structured and flexible contractual framework. The proposed framework will establish approved providers, agreed service standards, pricing arrangements, quality requirements, performance measures and clear call-off procedures from 1 April 2027. The framework is intended to improve market stability, strengthen contractual oversight, enhance quality and safeguarding assurance, protect opportunities for local small and medium-sized providers and improve the Council's ability to respond to increasing demand, growing complexity of need and hospital discharge pressures.

Plymouth's population is changing significantly, with projected increases in both the number of older people and those living with complex health and care needs. As the population ages, demand for support at home is expected to grow, alongside increasing prevalence of frailty, dementia, long-term conditions and multiple co-existing health needs. Supporting more people to remain independent in their own homes is therefore a critical component of the Council's approach to prevention, independence and sustainable adult social care provision.

The proposed framework supports the strategic priorities of Plymouth City Council, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) and wider health and care partners. Homecare plays a vital role in preventing avoidable admissions to residential care, supporting hospital discharge, reducing delayed transfers of care and enabling people to remain connected to their communities. A more structured commissioning approach will help ensure sufficient market capacity, improve responsiveness to hospital discharge requirements and support the delivery of care closer to home.

Statutory Responsibilities

The Council has a statutory responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to assess and meet eligible care and support needs and to promote individual wellbeing. This includes duties to:

- Assess individuals' care and support needs.
- Arrange services, including homecare, where eligible needs are identified.
- Promote preventative services that delay or reduce the need for more intensive care and support. - Shape and sustain a diverse and effective care market.
- Commission services that provide value for money and meet local needs.

Homecare is therefore a core statutory service that enables the Council to fulfil its legal obligations whilst supporting people to live independently for as long as possible.

The Homecare market also supports system-wide health and care objectives. Adult social care packages are commissioned on behalf of Plymouth City Council, Livewell Southwest and NHS Devon ICB, and are integral to the effective operation of hospital discharge pathways. Any instability within the Homecare market can have a direct impact on the timely discharge of patients from hospital, system flow and the availability of community-based care.

Contractual and Procurement Considerations

The proposed procurement will establish a compliant commissioning arrangement under the Procurement Act 2023. The Act requires contracting authorities to have regard to objectives including delivering value for money, maximising public benefit, acting with integrity and ensuring transparency.

Continued long-term reliance on spot purchasing arrangements limits the Council's ability to influence market development, manage quality consistently, establish long-term contractual expectations and demonstrate best value. Operating an Open Framework will provide a more transparent and sustainable route to market, strengthen market oversight, improve quality assurance, support financial control and ensure compliance with the Council's commissioning and procurement responsibilities.

The framework is expected to deliver benefits across four key areas:

- Improved financial stability and cost predictability.

- Stronger quality assurance and safeguarding oversight.

- Greater market resilience, capacity management and operational effectiveness.

- Enhanced compliance with statutory commissioning and procurement duties.

This approach will place the Council in a stronger position to meet future demand, support independence, maintain market sustainability and deliver better outcomes for Plymouth residents.

Reasons for decision

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

To provide a secure contractual platform for the 1,228 existing care packages, which could result in unmet needs, safeguarding risks, hospital admissions, and system-wide pressures.?

Provide an improved commissioning position to enable greater contractual oversight and management via the implementation of the Homecare Framework during 2026/27.?

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

The Homecare Framework Tender is also?required to ensure we maintain our statutory Care Act obligations.

*For the purposes of this paper and any further discussion or documentation, Domiciliary Care will be referred to as Homecare’, meaning the range of services put in place to support an individual in their own home to support their long-term care needs.