Agenda item

To consider a report which seeks approval from Members to recommission the ‘Accommodation with Care’ contract (Residential and Nursing Care Homes) ahead of the contract expiry date 31^st March 2026.

The committee considered a report which sought approval from Members to recommission the ‘Accommodation with Care’ contract (Residential and Nursing Care Homes) ahead of the contract expiry date 31^st March 2026.

Members were updated that there were 97 Care Homes within Cheshire East through which the council commissioned 1423 beds for adults in long term placements. It was noted that Cheshire East had a framework of requirements with 75 of those care homes which expired on 31 March 26. It was noted that as part of the recommissioning exercise disruption to residents in these homes would be minimised and that Cheshire East would invite the remaining 22 care homes to join their existing framework. There was a proposal for the recommission to be in place for five years with option for a further two years. It was noted that the majority of care homes in Cheshire East were rated as “good” or “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and where needed the council would work with care homes via an action plan to improve the quality of the care which they delivered.

Members were updated that there were a number of strands within the Transformation Programme to ensure that Cheshire East Council had fewer long-term placements for residents. It was noted that the contract does not guarantee business to care homes but provided them with the opportunity for them to bid for packages to ensure that Cheshire East Council gets the right placements and the right price. It was noted that the council currently had a project underway with self-funders to support them to make decisions which may be alternative to long-term care at an earlier stage and was developing an Accommodation With Care strategy to assist the council in planning where care homes of different styles were likely to be required around the county. It was noted that the planning department encourage the Adults and Health directorate to comment on planning applications which come forward from care home to ensure that the demand is in the right place.

It was noted that the previous contract commenced in 2018, some of the care homes had joined in the intermediary years, but all of the contracts would come to an end on 31 March 2026. It was noted that it was a regulated market and the CQC would have a review of each care home, in addition to this, Cheshire East Council has a risk matrix which was managed monthly which set out all intelligence the council had on providers, which was gathered via social workers, complaints, safeguarding enquiries, etc. and the council’s quality assurance team would work with providers who were struggling to develop an improvement plan and would take an active part in oversight.

Members noted that this was a very significant and costly contract for the council and raised concerns that there were several care homes who had not tendered for a number of years. It was noted that there would be opportunities within the framework for contracts to be terminated if needed due to safeguarding issues or non-compliance, and that review periods could be built in if required.

It was noted that there was a significant difference between the prices which self-funders paid directly to a care home for their care, compared with what Cheshire East Council pays for care. Members were updated that it was not a straightforward calculation and that if the council took over the care for self-funders, it would not necessarily mean reduce costs.

It was noted that the 22 care homes in Cheshire East which were not currently part of the council’s framework were spread out throughout Cheshire East and were largely those which had been recently constructed. It was noted that if a care home was purchased by another company, due diligence would be carried out to ensure that it met Cheshire East Council’s requirements.

RESOLVED (By Majority):

That the Adults and Health Committee:

1.    Approve the recommission the Accommodation with Care contract, ahead of the expiry date of 31st March 2026.