Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities regarding the procurement of home care contracts for Leicestershire residents with eligible social care needs, for the period 2026 to 2034.  A copy of the report, marked “Agenda item 8”, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Abbott CC noted that the provision of home care was a key Council service and the changes to the commissioning model would ensure a sustainable provider market whilst also achieving best value for the Authority.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the procurement of contracts for the provision of services in respect of home care, continuing health care, and Live in Care/24-hour care under an open Framework, for the period 2026 to 2034, be approved;

b)    That the Director of Adults and Communities be authorised to enter into any contractual arrangements necessary to bring into effect the provision of services in respect of home care, continuing health care, and Live in Care/24-hour care with effect from 1 September 2026.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to undertake an assessment of any person who appears to be in need of care and support, and to provide services to meet any unmet care and support needs identified through that assessment. The authority must develop a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services, which will be available to their communities. A wide range of high-quality services will give people more control and help them to make more effective and personalised choices over their care.

The existing Home Care for Leicestershire Framework expires in October 2025 with a potential one-year extension until October 2026; there are no options remaining to extend the arrangements beyond that.  With the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 in February 2025, it is timely to re-commission the service under current legislation. The Procurement Act 2023 introduces open frameworks (a scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms) with a combined term of eight years.  Procuring services under an open framework will reinforce sustainability in the Leicestershire market. The open framework mandates re-opening to allow new providers on to the Framework. The Framework is planned to re-open at the end of year one and in year five of the eight-year term.

By redesigning parts of the Framework (for example, the zone boundaries) the Council will be able to demonstrate a more efficient commissioning model.