Purpose

The purpose of this report is to recommend
that Cabinet approve the strategic direction to recommission all
homecare in Wiltshire from 2026. Once the preferred option is
agreed a procurement will be required in 2025/26.

Content

Resolved:
 
That Cabinet
notes:
 

1.   
The opportunity to close or move homecare services from the
current framework contracts in 2026, with contract extensions
already agreed until 2026.

 

2.   
That significant co-production activity has supported the
development of the preferred option to commission a joint homecare
framework for adults and children.

 

3.   
A range of commissioning options have been considered, supported
by national benchmarking. (Options detailed at 116. In this
paper)

 

4.   
Demand has been evidenced, and it is important to strengthen and
develop the homecare market to enable the Council to deliver its
legal requirement under the Care Act.
 
That Cabinet
approves:
 

1.   
The decision to commission a joint homecare framework for adults
and Children’s.

 

2.   
That officers continue to undertake to prepare the procurement
programme of a new adults and children’s Framework contract
for home care, for implementation from the 1st of April
2026.

 

3.    
Due to the contract value, officers to bring back to cabinet a
final paper requesting approval to proceed to tender in July
2025.

 
 
Reason for Decision:
The
purpose of this paper is to provide the Cabinet with a review of
current homecare arrangements, consider possible commissioning
options and recommend the joint procurement process for adults and
children’s home care.
 
The
term Homecare is intended to cover the full range of care provided
in a customer's home – domiciliary care, supported living,
personal care and all service lines have been reviewed and aligned
to Homecare as appropriate.
 
It
is a legal requirement for the Council to meet the eligible needs
of the residents of Wiltshire and as such providing care at home is
an integral part of delivering on this legal requirement. Wiltshire
has a stated vision to create stronger communities across the
county enabling people to live healthy and enriched lives. One of
the main themes of the Wiltshire Council business plan is
prevention and early intervention which helps maximise the
independence, choice and control for residents in Wiltshire by
providing the right accommodation and support in the right place at
the right time. This in turn links the business plan, the
Independent Living Strategy and the Accommodation strategy and
supports the implementation of Autism strategy, dementia strategy
and promotes prevention.
 
We
can evidence a growth in homecare demand, with an average 12%
increase in demand for adults seen over the last two years. For
Children’s homecare activity is significantly smaller than
adults but activity by the end of 2024/25 is projected to have
doubled from 2023/24. The flexible homecare framework has
significantly increased adult capacity in the home care market to
meet the increased demand and this has been supported by the
national introduction of provider sponsorship licences which has
expanded homecare workforce through international
recruitment.
 
Currently homecare is commissioned from three frameworks.
Commissioners have established with procurement, that all three
frameworks could be closed or homecare services moved from the
current arrangements in 2026, affording us the opportunity to
consider and agree a strategic approach to the future commissioning
of homecare.
 
In
previous engagement activities e.g. accommodation strategy and in
the recent engagement work on homecare we have heard the public
tell us that remaining at home is their preference moving forward
as it will enable them to stay active in and connected too their
local communities.
 
The
preferred option of a joint home care framework for adults and
children’s is supported as a commissioning approach which
will streamline internal council processes, respond to providers
concerns of unwarranted variation and a lack of transparency
between the current three frameworks, enable a longer-term approach
to planning and most importantly ensure sufficient homecare of good
quality is available for people living in Wiltshire.
 
Cabinet is asked to agree the decision to commission a joint
homecare framework for adults and Children’s.