Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided an update on the Vulnerable Adults Supported Accommodation contracts (the contracts).

The Board was advised that the contracts had been in place since June 2016, and were due to end on 30 June 2019. The report set out details of the options for the services from July 2019 onwards. These included an extension of existing contracts; joining the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Complex Care Flexible Purchasing System, (which would be managed by Liverpool City Council); and Independent Service Funds (an alternative to direct payments and commissioned services).

Reason(s) for Decision

The LCR FPS would allow the Council access to a range of services for vulnerable adults without the need to undertake a local procurement process but still retaining local control over quality and performance standards and funding levels.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Local Procurement Process

If Halton did not join the LCR FPS a local procurement process would need to be undertaken in 2019 prior to the contracts ending in 2020.  The last tender undertaken in 2016 resulted in a change of support provider for the majority of services which destabilised a number of services due to organisational and staffing changes. 

This would be a risk, as given the clients being supported, consistency of support was key.

Implementation Date

The expected go live date of the LCR FPS was May 2019 subject to completion of a procurement process.

RESOLVED: That Executive Board

1)    agrees to Halton joining the Liverpool City Region Complex Care Flexible Purchasing System; and

2)    delegates authority to the Strategic Director, People, to negotiate charges related to the Flexible Purchasing System.