Decision details

To approve the award of 4 new contracts arising from a county wide Carers Support Tendering process. These will be two-year contracts commencing 1August 2017; with the option to extend for up to two further periods of one year.

The process has been undertaken jointly with 6 Clinical Commissioning Groups supported by the Better Care Fund and will support the council’s approach to integration and carers and partnership working with the NHS.

RESOLVED:

That the award of four contracts for the provision of specialist countywide carers support services be approved to the following:

·                Young Carers and Young Adult Carers awarded to Action for Carers Surrey

·                “Giving Carers A Voice” And Multi Agency Awareness Raising awarded to Action for Carers Surrey

·                Back Care Services awarded to Action for Carers Surrey

·                Benefits Advice for Carers awarded to Surrey Welfare Rights Unit.

Each contract is for a period of two years commencing 1 August 2017 with an option to extend on one or more occasions for up to a total period of two years.

Reasons for Decisions:

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to support adult and young carers in case of need, which could be met through a variety of approaches. There are also specific key objectives in the National Carers Strategy to engage with carers and young carers in co-design and to ensure staff are properly briefed about carers needs. Following an assessment of several service delivery and procurement options, it was concluded that a full competitive tender based on subject specific lots was the most appropriate approach. The project is funded from the Better Care Fund and forms part of the Surrey Better Care Plan.

This procurement exercise was carried out in collaboration with Surrey’s six NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The objective being to secure the best supplier(s) delivering cost effective, high quality services against agreed specifications that will improve the quality of life for carers.

An open, fair and transparent tender process was undertaken and potential providers were invited to bid for one lot for each service. Following a thorough evaluation process suppliers were selected for each area. 

The recommended bidders have demonstrated that they can deliver high quality services expected by Surrey County Council (SCC) and the CCGs.

There is strong evidence from national cost modelling, that support to carers helps prevent breakdown of caring situations and avoids far greater cost for the provision of more expensive, more intrusive “care packages” or interventions. Although no accurate calculation of the benefits can be made it is estimated £17.2 million of additional care and support costs will be prevented over the life of these contracts.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Adults and Health Select Committee]