Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Adults Services will be asked to consider the re-commissioning of a range of short break services for those providing care and support to an adult with frailty/living with dementia. The current configuration of services that provide short break services are in the final year of contractual agreement with the County Council. The intention is that provision will re-focus on the different needs of these carers across the county, following a period of lockdowns/pandemic.

Short Break Services for Family and Friends Carers will be part of a range of options that carers will be able to choose from and refer themselves into so as to gain a break. The services will usually be aimed at the ‘cared for person’ and include:

·         Regular activity based sessions away from the home environment e.g. outings or clubs that are based at a venue. Weekday, weekend or evening provision

·         One to one support at home and trips out

There may also be other services that involve the carer and cared for enjoying outings/activities together as carers value being out of the house as valuable respite from daily routine.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services will be asked to agree the commencement of a procurement process that will follow the principles of good outcomes, quality of service, value for money and additional social capital when evaluating tenders and delegate authority to the Director of Adults and Health to award the contract(s).

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services has approved that;

(1)    a competitive tender process be commenced, to commission a range of carer short breaks, with contracts to commence on 1 April 2023, for a period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to 2 years; and

(2)    authority is delegated to the Director of Adults and Health, to award the contracts to the bidders submitting the tenders that best meet  requirements and to agree to future extensions of the contracts up to a maximum of two years.

None.