Issue - decisions

That the Executive Member for Health and Social Care:-

1.             Approves the tendering of an external Direct Payments Support Service for an interim 2-year period with the option to extend. The cost will be £170k per annum.

a)             This will ensure Care Act 2014 compliance by providing people, and our staff, with specialist advice and support. This is particularly relevant for people choosing to employ Personal Assistants.

b)             During this interim period a full options appraisal will be undertaken to explore the longer-term solution for Direct Payment support. The options appraisal will be co-produced and explore options such as creating an in-house support option, continuing with a procured service, building a community-based user-led consortium, and creating a free-market of several providers.

2.             Delegates authority to the Executive Director, People / Director of Adult Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to:

a)             Decide the award of the new contract to the successful service provider chosen by the Council following the procurement.

Take all other decisions necessary to meet the aims, objectives and outcomes of this report which are not already covered by existing delegations in the Leaders Scheme of Delegations.