Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/128

Contact: John Pearce, Commissioning Manager (John.Pearce@oxfordshire.gov.uk) , Lorraine Donnachie, Joint Senior Commissioner Officer (Lorraine.Donnachie@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Corporate Director of Adult Social Care (CMDASC4).

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Approve the proposal for Adult Social Care to extend the current Dementia Support Service contract with Age UK Oxfordshire for the fifth and final year from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 (contract value £585,804).

b)    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Adult Services to award and enter into contract with Age UK Oxfordshire to continue the additional service provision from 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2025 funded from Better Care Fund (contract value £410,060).

Recommendations approved.

The Cabinet Member considered the report on the Budget Approval of a Dementia Support Service Funded Between Adult Social Care and Integrated Care Board.The Dementia Support Service (branded Dementia Oxfordshire) is provided by Age UK Oxfordshire. The service is funded by Oxfordshire County Council (the council) and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB). The contract is for three years plus a possible further two years extension. The contract is currently in its fourth year which expires on 31 December 2024. A decision was required about whether the contract will be extended for the fifth and final year.

A decision was also required to directly award a contract to Age UK Oxfordshire to continue with the work provided by additional funding through Better Care Fund. This would run concurrently with the extended Dementia Support Service and expire on 31 December 2025.  It was recommended that the additional funding be continued, but it is not possible through the current Dementia Support Service contract due to previous funding taking it to the maximum increase allowance through contract procedure rules. An exemption therefore to tendering has been granted in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to allow the direct award of the additional contract.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their work and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

Resolved to:

a)    Approve the proposal for Adult Social Care to extend the current Dementia Support Service contract with Age UK Oxfordshire for the fifth and final year from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 (contract value £585, 804).

b)    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Adult Services to award and enter into contract with Age UK Oxfordshire to continue the additional service provision from 1 April 2024 to December 2025 funded from Better Care Fund (contract value £410,060).