Decision details

Care and support at home services (also known as domiciliary care or home care) are purchased by the county council on behalf of people who have been assessed as having eligible social care needs. These services support people to maintain their independence through the delivery of personal care and support, provided within a person’s own home.

The county council currently commissions the majority of these services from a framework agreement which commenced in 2015. This will come to an end at the latest by March 2024. This framework was developed jointly with NHS Continuing Healthcare who also use the contract. In addition, the county council purchases services from the wider market through a legacy contractual agreement and a more recent contingency contract. 

The commissioning of these services  is currently being reviewed with proposals being developed for new arrangements and contractual agreements.  These will enable the achievement of our strategic aim to support people to live independent and fulfilled lives and also to reduce the need for long term residential services as part of the ambitions set out in the Adult social care strategy 2022-25. New arrangements will seek to ensure there is capacity across West Sussex to meet the needs of those with care and support needs and supports a sustainable care and support at home provider market in West Sussex.  The expected value of the annual spend on domiciliary care for the life of these new arrangements is approximately £35 million, potentially rising to £40 million over the life of the contract depending on inflationary and demographic pressures.

Following the review, the Cabinet Member for Adults Services will be asked to approve the commencement of a procurement process to source the future care and support at home services and delegate authority for contract award to the Director of Adults and Health.

The Cabinet Member for Adults Services has approved;

(1)  the extension of the 2009 Domiciliary Care Framework, the 2015 Care and Support at Home framework and the 2021 Contingency contracts until 31 March 2025, with initial six (6) month extension issued to contracted providers from March to September 2024;
 

(2)  the commencement of a procurement for care and support at home services, with contracting arrangements planned to commence on 29 September 2024; and

(3)  delegated authority for the approval of contract award and any subsequent decisions and awards relating to these contracting arrangements to the Director of Adults and Health.

None.