Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director for People

Claire Labdon-West, Commissioning Manager, presented the report, which seeks permission to run a competitive call-off from the Nottingham City Council Residential and Nursing Accreditation, for a planned respite service for working age adults with a learning disability and autism. Councillor Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, spoke in support of the recommendations.

The following points were highlighted and responses provided to members’ questions:

a)  As specified in the Care Act 2014, the Council has a statutory duty to provide a respite service. Planned respite is vital in ensuring the well-being and resilience of carers, and avoiding crisis and placement breakdown, which can have significant cost implications;

b)  Following the withdrawal of the long-term respite base in 2016, colleagues worked hard to secure planned respite accommodation but have only been able to secure emergency accommodation. This process proved labour-intensive and expensive;

c)  In 2022, the block purchase of four respite accommodation units was secured for one year, enabling 30 eligible carer households on the edge of crisis to access planned respite;

d)  Six months into the one-year contract, provision and overall user feedback was assessed and confirmed as appropriate and successful, with the exception of eight families with specific access needs, for whom the accommodation was not suitable;

e)  The units have achieved a 90% occupation rate, so to ensure the best possible value for money and efficiency, it is proposed that any future unoccupied periods are offered to the County Council to help support their eligible citizens with planned respite, the cost of which will be recharged;

f)  The provider is responsible for liaising with carers to book the respite, and even providing transport to and from the site. In addition, the provider has taken responsibility for all repairs and even supported crisis management. Respite users have given very positive feedback and are keen for this level of service to be retained;

g)  Broader best value will be tested to ensure the service can achieve the best price, and other models of respite provision will be examined, including those which are wholly accessible to all families;

h)  Committing to a block booking of accommodation was a risk, but cost effective and has proved beneficial for all parties, and so it is recommended that the arrangement is replicated for a further two years with continuing monthly monitoring.

Members welcomed the success of the provision, including the best value and efficiency approach, including offering vacant capacity to the County Council.

Resolved

1)  to approve the spend of up to £980,620.16 on a planned respite service for citizens with an assessed need under the Care Act 2014 over a contract period of two years;

2)  to delegate authority to the:

(a)  Director of Commissioning and Partnerships to approve the outcome of a competitive call-off under the accreditation contract for residential and nursing care;

(b)   Head of Personalisation, Quality and Contracting to sign the contract relating to this service.

Reasons for recommendations

o  Nottingham City Council has a statutory duty  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18