Decision details

Highwood Mill is an Extra Care Housing Scheme in Horsham which opened in 2016. This is currently the largest extra care scheme in West Sussex that Adult Social Care can nominate to. It has a mix tenure of 70 affordable rented properties as well as 35 privately owned apartments, of which Adult Social Care on behalf of Horsham District Council has nomination rights to 50 units. The care and support within the extra care scheme was originally procured by the landlord, Saxon Weald Housing Association, and the current contract is due to end January 2022.

Saxon Weald Housing Association originally developed the extra care scheme using their own investment and so procured the care contract for the social care support provided within it.  Saxon Weald have asked if West Sussex County Council can take over the procurement of the care contract and future contract management at Highwood Mill for two reasons:

•            To develop the service in line with the other commissioned care contracts they hold within West Sussex.

•            To ensure consistent and successful contract management of the onsite provider

A cost benefit analysis has been undertaken resulting in recommendation that West Sussex County Council take on the ongoing contract management of the scheme to bring it in line with other extra care schemes and allowing access to the existing care and support framework applied in extra care.

The Cabinet Member for Adults Services will be asked to approve the commencement of a procurement of the Care Contract within Highwood Mill Extra Care Scheme, within the current Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Framework and delegate authority for the award of contract and any subsequent awards, within the agreed DPS Framework, to the Executive Director of Adults and Health. The care contract will commence in January 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Adults Services has approved;

(1)     the commencement of a procurement for the care contract within Highwood Mill extra care scheme, to commence in August 2021, using the “call off” process within the current WSCC Care and Support in Extra Care Housing Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS); and 

(2)   the delegation of authority for the award of the contract and any subsequent   awards, within the agreed DPS Framework, to the Executive Director of Adults and Health. The care contract will commence in January 2022.