Short Breaks (Play & Leisure) and Domiciliary Care Services for Children with Disabilities Framework

Leicestershire County Council is conducting a procurement to establish a Framework Agreement in accordance with the Light-Touch Regime requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) (PCR 2015) for the purpose of procuring service providers to deliver services with regards to Short Breaks (Play & Leisure) and Domiciliary Care for Children with Disabilities.

The requirement will be broken down into lots as described below.

Lot 1 - Short Breaks (Play & Leisure): Short breaks provide opportunities for disabled children and young people to spend time away from their parents and carers, with friends and peers, for positive opportunities. They are intended to promote their positive mental health and emotional well-being. Short Breaks normally occur on a regular and planned basis and should be part of an integrated programme of support which is regularly reviewed. Emergency Short Break provision will need to be provided from time to time.

Lot 2 - Domiciliary Care

Domiciliary care is a statutory service that the Council has a duty to provide and it relates to the provision of care and support to children and families in their own home (e.g. personal care, meal preparation, moving and handling etc.). The service can only be provided following an assessment of need and if certain thresholds are met. This service is not exclusively for disabled children and young people although they make up the vast majority of service users. The framework covers two broad areas of domiciliary care - domestic tasks and sitting services.

It is anticipated multiple Providers will be awarded on to each lot.

It is intended that the Framework will commence on 01/04/2025 and that it will be in place for an initial period of one year ending 31/03/2026. There are three options to extend the framework in 12 month increments to a maximum end date of 31/03/2029.

The Framework will be subject to review and re-opening. The Framework will be re-opened when the Council believes that reopening competition would be beneficial in terms of meeting demand and ensuring the framework is fit for purpose. This could be on an annual basis, to align with the framework's anniversary, and/or at any other time the Council deems necessary.