Social work services without accommodation

Description

The Council is establishing an electronic Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Extra Care Housing (ECH) services in Newham. The DPS is a two-stage process; this is the initial set-up stage where all suppliers must meet the selection criteria to be admitted onto the DPS. A universal specification outlining the Council’s core requirements has been produced. Once established the DPS will enable the Council to undertake a mini-competition for individual service contracts as and when required; at this second stage, suppliers will be required to demonstrate how they will meet the service requirements set out in both the universal and supplementary specifications. Extra Care Housing (ECH) is housing designed to meet the needs of predominantly older people who require 24-hour care and support because of their physical, learning, mental ill-health or disability. People who live in ECH have their own self-contained home, their own front door, and a legal right to occupy the property. Newham currently has 8 existing extra care schemes operating in the Borough made up of 327 units. All schemes accept vulnerable and elderly customers aged 55+ in receipt of personal care needs of 5 hours /week or more with the exception of one scheme, Amber Court, which accepts customers 18+ years old. ECH enables the Council to meet several council and departmental strategic priorities. The social benefits of ECH are well-documented and include: — Better quality of life, — Access to leisure and social activities to reduce social isolation and improve well-being, — Well-designed environment can be a home for life and enables older people to remain in their own home even as they require increasing care and support. Newham’s current Extra Care offer is more akin to sheltered housing because the Care and Support elements are delivered through Customers’ individual Care and Support plans rather than providing a fully coordinated 24 / 7 on-site service. Some current Extra Care Customers do not meet the eligibility criteria for Extra Care and / or are not in receipt of Care and Support. New Customers referred to Extra Care shall meet the eligibility criteria. Therefore, it is expected that the number of eligible Extra Care Customers living in the Schemes will increase. The Council’s 3 year Extra Care Commissioning Plan identifies how the current disparate funding streams for Extra Care can be adapted to achieve best outcomes for Customers, economies of scale and value for money for the Council and increased financial benefits, certainty and flexibility for Providers. The new approach shall be a ‘Core and Flexible’ model, which shall: — Promote Customer choice and accessibility, — Maximise preventative opportunities, — Achieve wider benefits to the Council, — Ensure financial sustainability for Providers. Through the DPS process the Council will be running mini tender exercises to commission Providers who demonstrate innovative and creative approaches to the delivery of Care and Support within Extra Care. An approach which places the Customer at the heart of Service delivery, involves Customers in choices about their Care and Support that promotes positive risk taking, independence, dignity and choice at all times and has a strong focus on enabling and re-enabling. The Council recognises the need to innovate and modernise the way care and support is delivered and supports the use of digital technology to assist with the support and delivery of these services. The overall aim of Extra Care shall be to work with the Council, Customers, Landlords and other stakeholders to create and maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive environment that promotes independence, health and well-being.