Care and Support in Extra Care Housing

In 2016 Torbay Council, in partnership with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, procured a supplier for the provision of an integrated care and support, person centred, service for people living in Dunboyne Court and Whitley Court Extra Care Housing, Torbay.

This contract commenced on 1 July 2016 and is due to expire on 30 June 2020.

Extra Care Housing (ECH) combines care and support to maximise the independence of older people and other vulnerable people, by supporting them to live independently for as long as possible in their own home within the community.

The service provides person-centred care and support, to those living in affordable accommodation, that is owned by Sanctuary Housing Group.

This enables people to enjoy living independently, with purpose, to build relationships and to be able to live life to the full.

The accommodation is a mix of rental and shared ownership units.

The supplier provides 24 hour / 7 day per week staffing on-site to residents The onsite care is funded jointly by the Council and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, with a contribution from residents in shared ownership flats to provide 107 hours per week of support across the 2 sites.

In addition the supplier also delivers separate packages of care to individual residents under a spot purchase arrangement with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, where the resident has chosen to have their care provided by the supplier.

Explanation: The Council's current contract with the supplier is due to expire on 30 June 2020.

Alongside the 2 existing sites the Council and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are intending to develop further extra care provision.

The current model for the provision of 24 hour / 7 day per week on site staffing is not sustainable in the longer term on the current sites or any developed in the future.

The source of future funding for the service is uncertain and consultation with key stakeholders is underway to establish a more sustainable and practical model.

This process will not be completed by 30 June 2020 and the Council needs to continue to maintain provision, at its current levels, on the 2 sites until such time as the new model can be implemented.

In order to maintain stability for the residents of Dunboyne Court and Whitley Court the preference is to continue to contract with the existing supplier for a period of up to 12 further months.

As there are a number of staff employed on this contract it is expected that TUPE regulations would apply in the event the contract transferred to a new employer.

Due to the short term nature of the proposed contract it is not considered to be in the best interests of the Council, the residents or the staff to tender for this provision at this time.

The current supplier has an established relationship with the residents and the decision has therefore been taken to continue to contract with them, on the basis of the previously tendered contract, for 12 months.