Decision details

Health and social care in West Sussex are working together to develop and implement a pathway for people who are  medically fit for discharge from acute hospitals but who may have continuing health or social care needs. People meeting these criteria and who do not require 24 hour care would be supported to return home immediately through this ‘Home First’ pathway without having their care needs assessed in hospital. 

In August 2019, the Executive Director People Services approved the commencement of a procurement process for new hospital discharge care services (Report Ref: OKD15 19/20) that will form one part of the multi-agency approach to the ‘Home First’ care pathway.

Following the completion of the procurement process the Executive Director Adults and Health will now award contracts for hospital discharge care services to commence delivery from April 2020.

The Executive Director for Adults and Health has approved:

1)   the award of the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Hospital Discharge Care service contracts for an initial period of three years for the following service lots:

(1)         Lot 1 – Northern – FirstCol Services Limited

(2)         Lot 2 – Southern – Independent Lives (Disability)

(3)         Lot 3 – Western – Agincare UK Limited

2)   the extension of existing contracts for up to 12 weeks to enable continuity of service should any of the Hospital Discharge Care services not mobilise and be fully operational on 6 April 2020. The existing contracts and current service providers are:

(1)         Coastal Hospital Discharge Service – FirstCol Services Limited

(2)         Provider of Last Resort – Sussex Community (NHS) Foundation Trust

(3)         Home First Care Northern – Agincare UK Limited

(4)         Home First Care Coastal – Agincare UK Limited

Update 14 February 2020: Following the approval and publication of this decision Agincare UK Limited withdrew their tender for Lot 3 – Western. The Council proceeded, with the agreement of the Director of Law and Assurance, under The Public Contract Regulation 2015 – Regulation 32. 2a where the Council may dispense with a Contract Notice and engage in negotiations with a single supplier under the negotiated procedure.

The award of the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Hospital Discharge Care service contract for an initial period of three years for Lot 3 – Western was awarded to Independent Lives on 14 February 2020.

None.