Decision details

1.     Appendices 1 and 2 to this report are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, (including the authority holding that information), as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.     The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care ratifies the decision to award a contract to Notting Hill Genesis for the provision of Extra Care Housing Services for the period 01 April 2020 -to-31 March 2021 for an annual cost of £294,871 and approves a further extension to the contract for the period 01 April 2021 -to- 31 March 2022 at a cost of £307,338.  Total maximum cost over two years of £602,209

As described in the report.

Option 1 - Do Nothing

The Elmgrove contract expired 31st March 2020. Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) has continued to deliver the service since 01 April 2020 to ensure service continuation.  To continue with no contract is placing the service, the Council and provider in a position of financial vulnerability.  Should it be considered that there be a change to the service delivery model, this will have to be done in a carefully planned way. There will be a risk of severe disruption to vulnerable residents if the service is not extended. Therefore, this option is not recommended.

Option 2 - Extend the contract for six-months and close the service   

As the Elmgrove contract has ended, there is the opportunity to consider if there is an ongoing requirement for the service. If the service were to be closed, a directly awarded contract for at least six months would be needed to enable the decant of Elmgrove House as the residents have assured shorthold tenancies and the Council has the responsibility to ensure that their care needs would continue to be met.  This would involve extensive resident engagement.

The service is achieving good outcomes and is popular with residents, family and stakeholders. Although there are a small number of voids across the provision of ECH, there is insufficient voids to decant residents to existing in-borough stock and would be a significant upheaval for residents.

This option could offer some savings to the Council on the core costs of the Elmgrove contract, but the residents will continue to have care needs which will need to be met, either in alternative extra care provision, residential accommodation, or through homecare should they move to independent living. For these reasons this option is not recommended.