Health and social work services

Tender description

The adult social care winter plan was published on 18 September, setting out a plan for the next phase of the Covid-19 response. To achieve this it is essential that local authorities, social care providers and the NHS work alongside each other in order to protect the vulnerable from Covid-19. The plan includes a commitment to deliver a designation scheme with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of premises for people leaving hospital who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are transferring to a care home. This procurement seeks to form an extension of, and enhancement to, the current health and social care system through entering into a block purchasing agreement that will offer additional and fixed capacity for eligible adults within a registered care home setting. This applies to care homes who provide accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care. Including registered residential care and nursing homes for older people, people with dementia, and people with learning disabilities, mental health and/or other disabilities and older people. The health and social care system in Lincolnshire including; the Local Authority, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Primary Care and Community Health Teams, are working together in a collective response, and as such, there will be significant wrap around support provided to all providers interested in proposing a designated area. The Local Authorities Infection Control Team support programme is intended to help providers prepare for CQC inspection and demonstrate their ability to implement enhanced standard infection control precautions. This support programme comprises the following areas: — review and advice on IPC policies and procedures, — review and development of internal governance processes, — undertaking/developing risk assessments, — physical assessment of the premises to prepare for CQC inspection. It is the intention that an open select list is established which will enable the local authority to call off bed capacity requirements from care homes that have a designated area for this provision and have been approved by the CQC as meeting these needs. It is proposed that the amount payable for these beds on a block purchase basis would be approximately GBP 849 per week. The cost will be paid whether the bed is occupied or vacant. Designated segregated areas are required in care homes to aid in the discharge from hospital throughout the winter pressure period. It is intended that these will be called off as and when required in response to demand requirements in Lincolnshire.