Social work services

Tender description

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) relating to engagement with providers of care home services for older people regarding a pre-award check process to be carried out nationally by Scotland Excel on behalf of Scotland’s Councils. In line with the light touch procurement approach, providers registered with the care inspectorate to provide a care homes service for older people, and who provide this service under the National Care Home Contract (NCHC) will undergo a pre-award check by self-declaring that they meet the mandatory exclusion criteria as per Regulation 58(1) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations. Summary This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) relating to engagement with providers of care home services for older people regarding a pre-award check process to be carried out nationally by Scotland Excel on behalf of Scotland’s Councils. In line with the light touch procurement approach, providers registered with the care inspectorate to provide a care homes service for older people, and who provide this service under the National Care Home Contract (NCHC) will undergo a pre-award check by self-declaring that they meet the mandatory exclusion criteria as per Regulation 58(1) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations Scotland Excel, at the request of Councils, will be attending provider forum meetings in the next few months to engage with providers and communicate the process of the pre-award checks which are scheduled to commence in March/April 2019. The details of these are at Appendix A which also includes details of provider forums where Councils will be communicating the pre-award process to providers. Detail Since the publication of the task force report on Residential care for older people in 2014, https://www2.gov.scot/resource/0044/00444594.pdf Scotland Excel, CoSLA, Local Authorities and provider representative groups have been working closely in taking forward the recommendations of the report. Scotland Excel, after extensive consultation, published its procurement strategy in May 2017 and its engagement report in September 2017 which are attached for information. These set out recommendations for the future sourcing of care home services for older people by Councils to build on current best practice and further compliance with EU principles by introducing advertisement and minimum standard checks. To implement this, Scotland Excel acting on behalf of the following Councils (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and Comhairlie nan Eilean Siar), will undertake a pre-award checks process. Thereafter, Councils will continue to award contracts based upon the NCHC which has been agreed for use in Scotland by all relevant stakeholders. The primary purpose of the NCHC is to standardise and streamline the arrangements and fees across Scotland for older people’s care home placements. The NCHC is also used to enhance the quality of care that is provided within care homes and to deliver consistency, efficiency, fairness and stability in the contractual relationship between commissioners and providers of care homes for older people. Scotland Excel welcomes providers to e-mail socialcare@scotland-excel.org.uk with any questions they may have regarding this or by telephoning 0300 300 1200.