Agenda item

Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin and Cllr Stephan Fifield, sought Cabinet approval to conduct a competitive procurement process to deliver that a Technology Enabled Care Service.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Adult Social Care Delivery to:

1. Serve notice to the existing service provider via the Section 75 agreement of the NHS Act 2006.

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a contract for the supply of a Technology Enabled Care Equipment Service (TEC Service). The proposed contract shall continue for an initial period of 5 years with an option to extend its term for a further period of not more than 2 years;

3. Award such a contract to the preferred provider; and

4. Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the term of such contract for a further period of 2 years on its fifth anniversary

7.1      Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin and Cllr Stephan Fifield, sought Cabinet approval to conduct a competitive procurement process to deliver a Technology Enabled Care Service (TEC).

7.2      The report set out the rationale to continue to provide a TEC service, for redesigning the model of care and a recommendation for commissioning the new service.

7.3      Recommendations were to conduct a competitive procurement process for the supply of a TEC service, with a proposed contract period of 5 years with an option to extend of 2 years. TEC was a wide-ranging term that covered Telecare, assistive technology and other types of technology relating to promoting wellbeing and independence including data capture and analysis through digital devices. TEC enabled the unwell, disabled, or elderly to receive care at home and continue to live independently. The current service supported around 2,500 people.

7.4      The new contract was required to be in place for the commencement of the new financial year 2024/2025.

7.5      By the end of 2025, the traditional telephone network would be switched off and replaced with digital infrastructure affecting every landline in the country. All TEC Services needed to move from analogue to digital to meet the requirements of the ‘Digital Switchover’. Digital Switchover would commence in the current financial year prior to contract award; minimising the risk of vulnerable users being left without a service. From October 2023 current priority Telecare clients and new clients would be provided with digital devices.

7.6      It was explained that the report was about increasing the amount of people who could stay in their own homes and have greater choice regarding their care. It was emphasised that the use of technology had real social value in helping people to be more integrated in society rather than be isolated.

7.7      Carers would be supported through this process. This was an opportunity for service redesign, taking account of the current and future needs of people and advancements in the digital equipment, enabling a move from a reactive service to a more proactive data enabled service.

7.8      A full options analysis had been undertaken and the recommendation was to develop a hybrid model with elements of in-house and outsourced services (Option 4). This would enable the Council to maintain the scope and activity within the contract through the assessment process and to de-risk the equipment supply by outsourcing this to a preferred provider.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Adult Social Care Delivery to:

1. Serve notice to the existing service provider via the Section 75 agreement of the NHS Act 2006.

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a contract for the supply of a Technology Enabled Care Equipment Service (TEC Service). The proposed contract shall continue for an initial period of 5 years with an option to extend its term for a further period of not more than 2 years;

3. Award such a contract to the preferred provider; and

4. Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the term of such contract for a further period of 2 years on its fifth anniversary

th anniversary