Decision details

The Cabinet Member approves:

1.     That Appendix 1 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that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 procurement strategy for the Carer Hub Information, contract for an initial period of three years with the option to extend for a further two years, commencing 1^st April 2026.

1.     The Carers Hub contract was first awarded to the incumbent supplier and is due to expire on 31 March 2026. Therefore the contract needs retendering to remain compliant with procurement regulations.

2.     As outlined in the strategy, an open procurement for this service will allow the Council to test the market whilst achieving value for money via a competitive tender process. A new, more flexible service model is needed to ensure timely administration of carers assessments, getting carers the correct support faster.

Option 1: Decommission the service or requirement –Not recommended

1.     This is not recommended as Carers Assessments are a statutory service.

Option 2: Deliver the supplies, services, and/or works in-house (make/buy decision) – Not recommended

2.     Advantages of this approach include local knowledge, connections with cases and services and greater influence over delivery.

3.     However, this option is not recommended due to lack of existing capacity to deliver, and social workers less likely to be seen as impartial resulting in potential lack of trust by service users and lower levels of support sought by carers.

4.     Furthermore, benchmarking activity has demonstrated that councils who use this approach do not show a greater effectiveness at timely delivery of carers assessments.

Option 3: Use an existing contract, established by the Council, to provide the supplies, services, and/or works – Not recommended

5.      This is not recommended as there is no appropriate existing contract under which these services can be provided.

Option 4: Procure using a compliant framework, Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), or Dynamic Market – Not recommended

6.     This is not recommended as there is no known framework for the services required.

Option 5: Undertake a fully regulated competitive and compliant procurement process, advertised to the market – Recommended

7.      This option is recommended. The service would be commissioned by the local authority through a third-party provider identified through a competitive open tender procurement exercise. The successful provider will be responsible for the employment of all staff and delivery of commissioned activity.