To agree revised arrangements for the provision of commissioned home care services for adults within Herefordshire.

(a)  an open approved list for the purchase of home care services be introduced from January 2018;

(b)  an open approved list for the purchase of supported living be introduced from January 2018;

(c)  the director for adults and wellbeing be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations including the acceptance of providers meeting the qualification criteria onto the open approved list, the setting of the rules relating to the approved list (including amendments from time to time) and the approval of the terms and conditions to be used from time to time for services purchased from the approved list.

1.    The option to not have an approved list or framework. This option is not recommended as contractual arrangements need to be in place for the council to purchase home care services in compliance with the Care Act 2014 and European Procurement rules.

2.    The option to extend the current Home and Community Support framework (HACS). This option is not recommended as the extension granted by Cabinet on 3 November 2016 expires on 31 March 2018. Furthermore, this approach to procurement could be subject to challenge.

3.    The option to conduct a formal tender for a closed framework. This option is not recommended because a competitive tender was conducted at the end of 2016 following extensive engagement and formal consultation. The response from the market did not provide the required coverage and quality of provision and the council was unable to award the contracts. Subsequent discussions with providers indicate that it is unlikely that the market would respond differently to another closed framework tender at this time. Furthermore, a closed framework lacks long term flexibility to respond to providers entering and leaving the market as it does not permit new providers to join once it is operational.