The Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Adults meeting on Tuesday 16 June 2026 approved new frameworks for complex needs supported living and for home care services. The meeting also addressed questions from a County Councillor regarding these new arrangements.

Complex Needs Supported Living Contract

The Cabinet Member for Adults, Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, approved the tendering of a new contract for complex needs supported living. This contract will be procured via a mini-competition through the Live Well Supported Services Framework Lot 2. Authority was delegated to the Director for Adult Social Services to award and enter into this contract following the procurement process.

Councillor Imade Edosomwan, a County Councillor, had previously asked how the new contract would improve outcomes for residents compared to current arrangements and what measures would be used to assess its success. Councillor Fletcher explained that the new contract aims to increase the availability of specialist, in-county supported living for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism who have complex needs. This includes individuals at risk of hospital admission under the Mental Health Act 1983, those ready for hospital discharge, and people currently placed out of county. The new model will provide a more planned and consistent support system, enabling individuals to live closer to their families and communities. It is designed to be less restrictive than hospital or out-of-county placements while still ensuring safety and well-being. The contract will also offer the council stronger oversight, with clear quality requirements, regular monitoring, and a support model based on strengths, independence, Positive Behaviour Support, trauma-informed practice, and least restrictive support. Success will be measured through individual outcomes, quality measures, and key performance indicators, including the number of people moved into suitable in-county supported living, reductions in avoidable admissions, evidence of increased independence, and feedback from service users, families, and professionals. The contract is expected to deliver better outcomes through more local, specialist, and person-centred support, with improved assurance over quality, cost, and delivery.

Staying Well At Home Framework Model

The meeting approved the procurement of a new successor framework for the delivery of statutory home care and reablement services, to be known as the Staying Well at Home (SWAH) framework. This new framework will run from 1 April 2027 for up to eight years, concluding in 2035. The decision also approved in principle the development of integrated commissioning arrangements with the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) for home care services, aligning with the proposed SWAH model. It was noted that SWAH will provide a mechanism for the Thames Valley ICB to purchase home care for adults eligible for support under the NHS Continuing Healthcare Framework, and the Council's s75 NHS Act Pooled Commissioning Agreement with the ICB will be varied to facilitate this. Authority was delegated to the Director of Adult Social Care to undertake the procurement process, award framework agreements, finalise partnership agreements with the ICB, and manage the framework over its duration.

Councillor Imade Edosomwan also raised a question regarding the safeguards being put in place to ensure continuity and quality of care for residents during the transition from the current Live Well at Home (LWAH) framework to the new Staying Well at Home (SWAH) framework. Councillor Fletcher stated that the Council prioritises continuity of care for residents during the transition. Where individuals are receiving care from providers who successfully bid for the new framework, their contracts will be transferred without change. For those receiving care from providers who do not join the new framework, contracts will be managed on a case-by-case basis, with moves to the new framework requiring agreement and consideration of individual choice and continuity of care. The Council will work closely with providers before and after the new contract commences to ensure quality is maintained. The SWAH framework itself requires providers to meet a higher level of quality threshold, which the Council will monitor closely.

Questions from County Councillors

Two questions were received from County Councillor Imade Edosomwan, which were addressed by Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults. The questions and their responses pertained to the new Complex Needs Supported Living contract and the transition to the Staying Well at Home framework, as detailed above.

Other Business

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 December 2025 were approved. No petitions or public addresses were received.