DN614457 Carer Voucher Scheme Sitting Service

Tender description

The Carer Voucher Scheme (Sitting Service) provides carers with a break from their caring role and as such supports the Council to fulfil its statutory duties in respect of carers’ under the Care Act 2014. Currently the Carer Voucher Scheme (Sitting Service) sits within the Help to Live at Home (HTLAH) contract DN419864. The 2019 framework applies to new business only however providers on 2016 contract were allowed to keep their existing customers rather than require them to change provider if they were happy. Alpha care delivery of a sitting service via the Carer Voucher Scheme pre-dates both 2016 and 2019 HtLaH domiciliary care contracts and continues to be the provider of choice for 9 service users (and their carers). Natural market forces and impacts of COVID have significantly reduced that number by approximately half. As there is no new business being taken this figure is expected to reduce further over the current financial year. Evidence demonstrates that increasing support for carers can, not only improve outcomes for them but also recipients of care through a reduction in unplanned admissions, readmissions and delayed discharges in hospital settings and reduced unwanted residential care admissions and lengths of stays. Therefore, commissioning for unpaid carers helps deliver good financial management and improvements in value for money for the Council. The Carers Voucher Scheme (Sitting Service) is currently under review and whilst alternate service models are being explored there is a need to continue to fund Alpha Care as a provider of choice for the remaining service users accessing their service. To issue new agreement for the delivery of existing service for a 12 month period will cost a total of £40,000 and will be funded from existing Adult Social Care resources as per current forecast