Purpose

The report requests a decision from Cabinet to direct award a set of contracts for Recovery & Community Resilience services as an interim measure to the existing providers to ensure continuity whilst longer-term planning continues to shape the future requirement. This is permitted under the Healthcare Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations. These are services that provide support to people in their homes following a stay in hospital.

Decision

(a)              That, the current performance and the importance of the Recovery & Community Resilience contracts in the operation of the local urgent and emergency care system, be noted

(b)              That the use of the direct award process C under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR23), be approved, to award five contracts to the existing providers in order to continue the existing Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) service; and

(c)               That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Adults & Housing, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, to make all necessary arrangements to give effect to the direct award to the existing providers.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council was the Lead Commissioner, on behalf of the Dorset Integrated Care System, for the Recovery and Community Resilience (RCR) contracts, which were funded in the main from NHS Contributions via the Better Care Fund.  This was a critical service to avoid bed blocking with knock-on effects for the Integrated Care Board and the Council. There was an essential requirement to have established contract provision in place.