Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: January 12, 2026

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council – Record of Decision   I Councillor Youd, Lead Member for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement Board, accept the recommendation of the Procurement Board and in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby approve:   ·     the approval of a provider to complete annual Care Act reviews to be procured in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules through an existing Framework, as detailed in the tables below: Detail required Answers Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Care Act Annual Reviews Procurement Reference numbers (DN and CR number supplied by Procurement) S1894 Name of Successful Contractor Liquid Personnel Supplier Registration Number (to be supplied by Procurement 06155616 Proclass Classification No. (to be completed by procurement) 151000 Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Private Limited Company Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Non-SME Contract Value (£) Approx. £97,500 Total contract value £ (including extensions) £97,500 total project value Contract Duration 6-12 months Contract Start Date 02/02/2026 Contract End Date 30/01/2027 Optional Extension Period 1 n/a Optional Extension Period 2 n/a Who will approve each Extension Period? Choose an item Contact Officer (Name & number)                        Donna Dean Lead Service Group Adult, Social Care & Health Partnerships How the contract was procured? (to be supplied by procurement) Direct Award/ Call off Framework Details (where applicable) (procurement body, framework reference & title, start/ end date National Framework for the Provision of Clinical and Healthcare Staffing Crown Commercial Services RM6281 Lot 4 Social Care Staffing Funding Source Revenue Budget Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter Choose an item.   EC: Committed to sign The Mayor’s Employment Charter Choose an item.     EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment charter Choose an item.   EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer Choose an item.   EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer Choose an item. ?     Detail required Answers Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Care Act Annual Reviews Procurement Reference numbers (DN and CR number supplied by Procurement) S1894 Name of Successful Contractor Action First (through Bloom) Supplier Registration Number (to be supplied by Procurement 08045123 Proclass Classification No. (to be completed by procurement) 151000 Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Private Limited Company Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Non-SME Contract Value (£) Approx. £97,500 Total contract value £ (including extensions) £97,500 total project value Contract Duration 6-12 months Contract Start Date 02/02/2026 Contract End Date 30/01/2027 Optional Extension Period 1 n/a Optional Extension Period 2 n/a Who will approve each Extension Period? Choose an item Contact Officer (Name & number)                        Donna Dean Lead Service Group Adult, Social Care & Health Partnerships How the contract was procured? (to be supplied by procurement) Direct Award/ Call off Framework Details (where applicable) (procurement body, framework reference & title, start/ end date NEPRO3   Funding Source Revenue Budget Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter Yes   EC: Committed to sign The Mayor’s Employment Charter N/A     EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment charter N/A   EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer Yes   EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer N/A ?       The Reasons are: Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to review care and support plans annually to ensure that needs are accurately identified, and that care arrangements remain appropriate and proportionate. Bringing in external support at this time will ensure statutory compliance and mitigate associated service and financial risks, enabling the Unify Programme to transition services from Aspire, NCA and GMMH over the next 6-12 months and support good quality social care practice.   Assessment of Risk: This situation presents a significant compliance and quality risk, with the potential for: ·     Statutory non-compliance with Care Act duties  ·     Inaccurate or outdated care packages  ·     Reduced oversight of individuals with complex or changing needs  ·     Reputational risk   Legal Advice obtained: Yes supplied by Lauren Armstrong This report sets out the proposal to procure a provider to provide additional capacity to undertake Care Act assessments and acknowledges that there is a significant backlog of assessments which have not been undertaken by the Council’s existing providers. The report highlights that this creates both a compliance risk and a financial risk to the Council in respect of failing to meet its statutory obligations under the Care Act 2014.   As such the Council has urgently reviewed its available options and has determined that it is appropriate to procure an external provider through a Procurement Act 2023 compliant framework to provide the required assessment capacity within the timeframes necessary.   Legal has separately advised relevant senior officers regarding whether the Council commissioning this external resource would have any impact its contractual position under the existing adult social care services agreement with the NCA.   The form of contract entered into with the successful provider will depend on which framework is used to select the successful provider. Legal Services can support with the finalisation and execution of the contract for services following the contract award to a successful provider.   Financial Advice obtained: Yes – Supplied by Sam Russel Two quotes have been received from providers with experience in this area. The prices quoted by provider for each activity based on completing 250 per reviews each is detailed in Appendix A.   Whilst we could make assumptions about the number of re-assessments or bolt on’s required against the overall target of 500 annual reviews this would not be based on any insights as we are unable to predict changing needs without going through a review process.   It is therefore proposed that a budget of £195,312 is set to deliver this work and that close budget and contract monitoring is undertaken which includes a 25% contingency for additional assessment which could include Carers Assessments, Continuing Healthcare Checklist, Reassessments etc.   It is presumed within the budget allocated that the assessments will be split equally between the competing providers. That all reviews undertaken will be standard reviews with management oversight. The 25% contingency has been built in to manage any variation in this review but needs to be monitored closely by the ASC workstream lead to ensure this process does not exceed the allocated funding.   Procurement Advice obtained:  Yes – Supplied by Tom Pyne The Authority has been in communication with two potential suppliers who may be best placed to deliver the work required. Should the Authority wish to proceed, it must award the work compliantly. The most expedient but compliant route to market would be to award the work to one or both potential suppliers via existing Frameworks, Eg; Bloom or Consultancy Plus. Procurement will support to progress via this route. Under circumstances where there is less urgency, a tender process under the Procurement Act 2023 and the Authority’s Contract Standing Orders would also be an option.   HR Advice obtained: Yes – Supplied by Kate Story As this is a procurement exercise for a specific piece of work there are no HR implications in engaging a provider for this work.  Thought must be given as part of our improvement journey as to how the annual review work is maintained and built into the current process within ASC ensuring that the authority is not in a similar situation next year.   Climate Change Implications obtained: N/A.   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·     Approval to go out to competition for provider to complete annual Care Act reviews Procurement Board report 12th January 2026 (Part 2)   Contact Officer: Donna Dean Telephone number: 07827 321 205   ·     The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract. ·     This matter is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.     Signed:    Cllr J Youd         Dated:   12 January 2026.               Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:   *         This decision was published on 13 January 2026 *         This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m 20 January 2026 on unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.