Purpose

Proposed
decision
Direct award of the contract, under the
Framework Y24008, for the delivery of the Community Equipment
Service
 
Reason for the decision
The Council has a statutory obligation to provide
the community equipment service to support
people with health and/or social care needs following discharge
from hospital as detailed within the Care Act 2014.
 
The
Kent Community Equipment Service (“KCES”) plays an
essential role for both Health and Social Care in meeting the needs
of Kent residents and has a significant impact on the smooth
functioning of acute and community health services. Failure, even
for a relatively brief period of time of the KCES would have severe
and far-reaching consequences for people who use the
service.

 
The
decision may not be reasonably deferred because failure of the KCES contract, and therefore not
having continuity of service provision, would detrimentally impact;
the Council’s ability to
deliver against their statutory duties; delay hospital discharge;
increase hospital admission; be a real risk to individuals and
therefore safeguarding; increase pressure on Mental Health and
Carers’ services; and have a potential impact on increased
costs to the health and social care sector. The timelines for
securing continued service delivery do not allow for compliance
with normal Executive Decision-making notice periods and
arrangements.
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)

 
Various
options including retendering the services on the open market and
awarding short term contracts for replacement services have been
considered but these were not taken forward due to the need to have
continuity of provision to meet statutory obligations under the
Care Act 2014
 
How the proposed decision
supports the
Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
 
The
proposed decision aligns to ‘‘Framing Kent’s
Future – Our Council Strategy 2022 – 2026’ and
will narrow the gaps
in outcomes between different parts of Kent with a particular focus
on providing the right type of equipment to improve life in
deprived communities.
 
 

Decision

Decision: As Cabinet Member
for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I:
a)   
AGREE to the direct award of the contract under the
Framework Y24008 for the delivery of the Community Equipment
Service on general terms as set out in the Decision Report;
b)   
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social
Care and Health to negotiate, finalise and enter into the required
contracts with the selected provider; and
c)   
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social
Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including but not
limited to entering into other contracts or legal agreements, as
necessary to implement the decision.