The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Monday 1 June 2026 was set to discuss the continuation of the Home and Settle Service. This service supports residents aged 18 and over who are returning home from hospital with low to moderate social care needs.

Home and Settle Service

The meeting's agenda included a report on the Home and Settle Service, which has been provided by Age UK East London since 2014. The service aims to help residents settle back into their homes and routines after hospital discharge, offering support for up to four weeks. This can include practical assistance such as ensuring the home is adequately heated, obtaining immediate food shopping, light housekeeping, and help with minor home adjustments like installing handrails. A key outcome of the service is the reduction of hospital readmissions, with an average of 3% of residents being readmitted within 90 days.

The report indicated that the current contract with Age UK East London, which began in June 2021 with a three-year duration plus a two-year extension, was due to end on 30 June 2026. The proposal was to approve a direct award of a new five-year contract to Age UK East London. This direct award was recommended under Direct Award Procedure C of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations, with an estimated total value of £600,000 over the five-year period.

The report highlighted that the service's funding was transitioning from the Better Care Fund to the Public Health Grant from 1 April 2026. This shift aligns the service more closely with public health priorities. The report also noted that while the service has performed well, Age UK East London had advised in January 2025 that they could no longer deliver the service within the existing budget. An uplift in the contract sum was provided by the Northeast London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB), alongside a reduction in service delivery days, times, and the number of residents supported.

The report stated that a direct award was considered acceptable due to no significant changes in the service scope or contract value, and satisfactory performance from the incumbent provider. It also mentioned that there appeared to be limited interest in previous procurements for this service, with only Age UK and the Red Cross operating similar services across the NEL footprint.

The Home and Settle Service was noted as directly assisting the Council in delivering Priority 1 of its Corporate Plan: 'A healthier Newham and Ageing Well', and indirectly supporting Priority 2: 'Newham's inclusive economy to support you in these hard times'.

The report also detailed the financial, legal, equalities, and procurement implications of the proposed direct award. It outlined that the proposed five-year contract would total £0.600m, averaging £0.120m per year, with the funding absorbed by the Public Health Grant. Legal implications included compliance with the Provider Selection Regime Regulations 2023, and the Council's contract standing orders. The report confirmed that the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 had been considered.

The decision maker for this Officer Key Decision was Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, in consultation with Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment. The report indicated that key decisions made by officers cannot be implemented until the sixth working day following the date of publication of the decision.