Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration presented a report on proposals regarding the development and procurement of a Reablement at Home service.

The Cabinet Member explained that there were two main elements/outcomes relating to a therapy-based reablement service, the first being a short-term care service offered to individuals at home who were unwell and unable to look after themselves due to a ‘crisis’ in their lives.  Typically, that would be due to an accident, poor health or the early onset of a long-term health condition.  At the end of the intervention the aim was for the individual to be able to return to living independently, outside of the care system.  The second element acknowledged that some individuals still needed longer term care services, for example Homecare, and reablement would contribute to supporting individuals to recover sufficiently to have a reduction in their care hours and complexity of support within the first few weeks.  The new therapy-driven service would have a positive impact on both the individual in need and the pressures faced by the Council in relation to the significant costs of care provision.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Council had initially commissioned two short-term pilots to test and trial different models of reablement.  Both pilots were due to end in the coming months but in light of the positive results, those pilots would be extended until the new Reablement at Home service had been commissioned and there had been an efficient transition from the existing Adult Crisis Intervention service.

Cabinet colleagues spoke in strong support of the new service proposals and reiterated the call for local authorities to be properly resourced to meet the significant increase in demand for adult and children’s social care services.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note that the two reablement pilot schemes were extended into the 2024/25 financial year and shall terminate upon the award / mobilisation of the new reablement provision;

(ii)  Agree that the Council proceeds with the procurement of a contract for Reablement at Home arrangements in accordance with the strategy set out in the report, subject to the endorsement of the Procurement Board to the exact model of reablement to be procured; and

(iii)  Authorise the Strategic Director, Children and Adults, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration, the Strategic Director, Resources and the Head of Legal, to conduct the procurement and award and enter into the contract(s) and all other necessary or ancillary agreements to fully implement and effect the proposals, including any periods of extension.