Decision details

The report describes the plans for the development and provision of services and support for people living with Dementia in Sheffield.

(i) The Director of Commercial Services in consultation with the Director of Commissioning (Communities) to tender for the provision of dementia residential short term care beds and day services across the city based on the current demand at Hurlfield View;

(ii) delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning (Communities) in consultation with the Interim Director of Finance and Commercial Services to award the contracts for residential short term care beds and day services and delegate authority to the Directors of Legal and Governance and Commercial Services to take all necessary steps to negotiate and enter into the contract.   The new contracts will commence on the 1st April 2017; and                                                                  

(iii) delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning (Communities) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care to develop the community day support facilities in line with consultation and the dementia commissioning plan.

Delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning (Communities) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care to take such steps as they deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in this report including any subsequent plans for the closure of the Hurlfield Resource Centre.

The recommendations will:

• Ensure that there continues to be sufficient volumes of short term care and day support for the people who are assessed and eligible for support.
• Release investment for the development of new innovative community based solutions which are provided at a more local level and designed to keep people independent safe and well and connected to the place they live.
• Contribute to the agreed savings plan, whilst not reducing the volume of services provided.

·         Create potential to generate additional income through a lease agreement for the use of the existing building or for the disposal of the whole site for capital receipt. 

Alternative Provision Proposals

In making the recommendation a number of alternative options were considered:-

Continue with the current provision with SHSC:-

• SCC is not able to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the tendered service as this could potentially be subject to commercial challenge (e.g. by organisations that would have tendered for the service).
• SCC is not able to identify the level of additional funding above the available agreed costs in the budget for 2017/18.  Any additional costs and payments would have a significant impact to the agreed savings targets and would reduce the investment to develop and build capacity in the community for people living with dementia. 

Retender for all the services within Hurlfield View:-

• A tender was undertaken in 2015 with very limited response.
• The current service is limited to one building and is restrictive is terms of opportunities for people to stay/be supported locally which can bring additional problems in terms of transport if people have to travel long distances across the city both to attend and visit relatives.
• Creates a potential barrier if a provider only wants to operate one element of the service e.g. current day care providers who do not operate overnight facilities

Re tender using a different payment models:-

• Spot purchase – this would not mean guaranteed capacity in the market.  As previously stated many providers will not reserve a bed for an advanced short term placement.  Many smaller and locally based day care providers rely on some element of guaranteed income to continue renting premises and providing meals and activities.

·        Develop a new specification and tender for a range of alternatives service:-

The early exit of the contract at the end of March 2017 does not give sufficient time to develop the new specification and undertake the necessary consultation with current users, carers and stakeholders about a new approach to providing short term support for people with dementia.