Cabinet Members: Adult Social Care and Children, Education & Young People’s Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/225

Contact: Melanie de Cruz, Commissioning Manager Live Well, melanie.decruz@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director of Adult Social Care

(CA8).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a) Agree the approach for the procurement of the future provision for the All-Age Advocacy contracts.

b) Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children’s Services following the end of the stand still period to award the All-Age Advocacy contracts

c) Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children’s Services and the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer to finalise and complete the contract documentation to deal with the contract award of the All-Age Advocacy service

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report recommending an approach for the procurement of the future provision for the All-Age Advocacy contracts.

Advocates were independent professionals who are qualified to help people understand their rights, communicate their needs and preferences, and ensure that their voices are heard in decisions about their care and support. They provide help and guidance to people who are experiencing difficulty accessing or using social care services. Local Authorities had a duty to provide independent advocacy under the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and The Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.The statutory elements of these contracts were:

a)      Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy for Children & Adults (IMCA)

b)      Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

c)       Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICCA)

d)      NHS Complaints Advocacy

e)      Children’s Advocacy

f)        Regulation 44 Reviews

g)      Independent Visitors Service

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, presented the report.

During discussion members referred to the importance of ensuring face to face provision of advocacy services for those residents not able to use digital applications.

Councillor Bearder moved and Councillor Howson moved the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:

a) agree the approach for the procurement of the future provision for the All-Age Advocacy contracts.

b) delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children’s Services following the end of the stand still period to award the All-Age Advocacy contracts

c) delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children’s Services and the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer to finalise and complete the contract documentation to deal with the contract award of the All-Age Advocacy service