Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration presented a report on proposals relating to the commissioning of a new Generic Advice and Enhanced Welfare Rights Service, to commence from 1 April 2020.

The Council had a statutory duty to establish and maintain information and advice services that covered care, support and other related services, such as finance, health, housing, employment and what to do in cases of abuse or neglect of an adult.  In preparation for the expiry of the current contract, a reassessment of the service had been undertaken to ensure that the new service would complement the Council’s Community Solutions Lifecycle Model and was aligned with the Council’s vision by promoting wellbeing and independence at all stages to reduce the risk of people reaching a crisis point.  In that respect, it was noted that the new service would offer home visits for the Borough’s most vulnerable residents who met social care eligibility criteria.

The Cabinet Member advised that consortium bids, facilitated through a Lead Provider model, would be welcomed and the new contract would be for an initial three-year term, extendable for up to two further years.  The specification would include provisions for future flexibility to enable the service to respond to changing needs and requirements.  It was also anticipated that discussions would take place with the new service provider regarding the possible creation of satellite hubs to complement the main information and advice centres at the Barking Learning Centre and Dagenham Library.  The Cabinet Member also advised on the intention to directly award a six-month contract commencing 1 October 2019 to the existing provider, the Citizens Advice Bureau, to allow sufficient time to fully develop the new specification.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the procurement of a contract for a strategic partner to provide a Generic Advice and Enhanced Welfare Rights Service commencing 1 April 2020, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report;

(ii)  Approve the direct award of a six-month contract commencing 1 October 2019 to the current service provider, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau; and

(iii)  Authorise the Director of People and Resilience, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the Director of Law and Governance and the Chief Operating Officer, to conduct the procurement and award and enter into the contract(s) and all other necessary or ancillary agreements including activating extension provisions within the contract with the successful bidder, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.