Decision details

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) as a partner of the Integrated Care System (ICS) works with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and wider health and social care system partners to ensure sufficient provision is available to support people to be discharged out of hospital returning to their own homes where possible. Where people are able to go home from hospital but require support to do so they can return home with services provided through ‘Home First’.

The Council has commissioned Hospital Discharge Care contracts since 2020 to deliver care and support alongside Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to people being discharged from hospital as part of the Home First offer. The current contractual arrangements expire on 31 March 2025.

A decision was taken on 08 August 2024 (Ref: Key Decision AS3 24/25)  to commence a procurement of the Hospital Discharge Care Services with the award of contracts to be delegated to the Director of Adults and Health.  This subsequent decision to be taken following the completion of the procurement exercise will be a requirement for the Director of Adults and Health to award the Hospital Discharge Care Contracts with new contracts expected to commence on 1 April 2025.

The Executive Director of Adults and Health has approved;

(1)  the award Hospital Discharge Care contracts in North and Coastal South geographical lots for an initial period of three years from 16June 2025 to 15 June 2028 with the option to extend for a further period or period(s) of up to two years until 15 June 2030. The total block hours will cost £1.2m per annum and additional ‘buffer’ hours up to a maximum of £1.5m per annum, only to be purchased as required and subject to additional funding being available and agreed;

(2)  the extension of the current Hospital Discharge Care contracts in North and Coastal South from 1 April 2025 to 15 June 2025 at an estimated total cost of £330k to ensure continuous service delivery whilst the new contracts mobilise; and

(3)  the extension of Extend Assist Care Ltd and Gozone Ltd current service provision covering geographical areas broadly included within Coastal West and Central lots for up to twelve months in three monthly increments to a maximum term ending by 31 March 2026 at a total block hour cost of £580k and additional ‘buffer’ hours up to a maximum of £1.5m per annum, only to be purchased as required and subject to additional funding being available and agreed.

None.