Issue - items at meetings - Residential and Nursing Care Home Block Contracting

Report of the Executive Director Health and Adult Social Care (copy attached)

Please Note: The Appendix to this report is exempt under paragraph 3. If the Sub Committee wishes to discuss any information contained in the appendix they will need to do so whilst the public are excluded.

RESOLVED - That the Sub Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care to take all necessary steps to procure and award multiple block contracts for a period of eight years (8 Years) which will run with bi-annual breaks i.e., two (2) plus two o (2) plus two (2)plus two (2) for residential nursing beds.

24.1    The Sub Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Health and Adult Social Care. The report explained that the Council was facing continued difficulties in securing residential nursing ad complex needs care home provision at competitive and sustainable rates, the high demand for placements in the city had driven up costs. To help address this approval was being sought to block contract beds.

24.2    By entering into block contracts arrangements capacity could be secured at more competitive rates, whilst maintaining good quality provision. It was intended to issue Prior Information Notices (PINs) to seek expressions of interest from providers.

24.3    Councillor West referred to the arrangements being made (Chair’s Communications) to roll out the vaccine, including care home residents who were being targeted specifically. The report sought to make additional bed spaces available, and he sought clarification regarding how this played against the current extreme funding pressures.

24.4    The Assistant Director explained that this process created stability as it provided an opportunity to engage with the market and helped to provide financial stability by working with the market/providers in reaching a price which they could operate at.

24.5    Councillor Miller sought confirmation regarding the process to be undertaken, requiring re-assurances that sufficiently robust measures were in place and that sanctions could be invoked if provision fell short of what was expected. It was explained that all providers/care homes needed to meet compliance standards.

24.6    Councillor West enquired regarding regulation by central government, and it was explained that precise clarification was awaited.

24.7    Councillor Galvin expressed concern that all staff should be paid the living wage. He was concerned that schemes could be used as a means of off-shore tax avoidance. It was explained that there would be closely scrutinised. The Executive Director explained that this was a country wide issue, most of the care homes in the city were run by local families the council worked very closely with these providers’ but it was also necessary to work with the market as well.

24.8    Councillor Winder stressed that it was important that there was equality of provision and that there was sufficient local provision. It was explained that this was the guiding principle for this process It was hoped in Wish Ward for example, to bring 28 bed spaces back into the city. The Chair, Councillor Burden stated that this was welcomed.

24.9    A vote was taken and Members voted unanimously in support of the report recommendation.

24.10  RESOLVED - That the Sub Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care to take all necessary steps to procure and award multiple block contracts for a period of eight years (8 Years) which will run with bi-annual breaks i.e., two (2) plus two o (2) plus two (2)plus two (2) for residential nursing beds.