Decision details

There are continuing pressures on the health and social care system related to the impact of the pandemic, restrictions on homes, capacity of provision where needed and challenges recruiting and retaining staff.

In addition, there is continued demand for nursing dementia beds, and this is not always available to purchase. These market pressures are also resulting in an increasing cost of residential placements.

An opportunity has arisen to commission 11 dementia nursing beds on a block contract for two years at Aster Grove, in the Littlehampton area of West Sussex. 

This decision is urgent due to the immediate need for cost efficient dementia nursing beds to be sourced more quickly than wider current market availability will allow as well as to meet demand for people with complex nursing and dementia needs at a rate which presents value for money to the Council and an opportunity to make savings on the Adult Social Care budget.

The Director of Adults and Health, with agreement from the Director of Law and Assurance and the Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 5.23 (Part 4 Section 1) of the Council’s Constitution and has approved the award of a block contract for 11 nursing beds at Aster Grove in Littlehampton, for two years, from  April 2022.