The Officer Key Decision meeting on Monday 1 June 2026 approved the direct award of a five-year contract for the Home and Settle Service to Age UK East London. This service supports residents returning home from hospital with low to moderate social care needs.

Home and Settle Service Contract Awarded to Age UK East London

Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, approved the direct award of a five-year contract, with two optional one-year extensions, to Age UK East London for the provision of the Home and Settle Service. The estimated total value of the contract over the five-year period is £600,000. This decision was made under Direct Award Procedure C of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations.

The Home and Settle Service has been provided by Age UK East London since 2014. Its primary function is to support residents aged 18 and over who live alone and have low to moderate social care needs, helping them to reintegrate into their homes and daily routines after being discharged from hospital. The service includes practical assistance such as ensuring the home is adequately heated and lit, obtaining immediate food shopping, preparing meals, light housekeeping, and minor handyperson tasks. It also assists with medication self-management and supports residents' confidence in self-care, with signposting to services like the Falls Prevention Service where appropriate.

The service has demonstrated a consistently low hospital readmission rate for residents within a 90-day period, averaging 3%. Recent resident surveys show high satisfaction levels, with 93% of respondents very satisfied or satisfied, and 90% believing the service represents good value for public money. Professionals also reported that the service assists with practical tasks, prevents readmissions by monitoring residents' ability to function at home, and signposts to other community services.

The contract's funding will transition from the Better Care Fund to the Public Health Grant from 1 April 2026. While this gives the Council full responsibility for funding, it also provides greater control over commissioning decisions. The decision to directly award the contract was made because there is limited interest from other providers in this type of service across the Northeast London footprint, and the incumbent provider, Age UK East London, has performed satisfactorily. The contract specification will be updated to incorporate feedback from recent resident and professional surveys.

The decision aligns with the Council's Corporate Plan priorities, specifically A healthier Newham and Ageing Well and indirectly supports Newham's inclusive economy to support you in these hard times. The financial implications are covered by the existing Public Health Grant budget, and legal considerations under the Provider Selection Regime regulations have been met. The decision can be implemented from 13 June 2026, following the end of the call-in period.

This decision was recorded on 3 June 2026 by Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, and notified to all Members on 5 June 2026. The call-in period concluded at midnight on 12 June 2026.