Supported Living Block contracts in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council invited tenders for a Care Quality Commission (CQC) Registered Provider to provide block supported living care and support Services at three establishments in Aylesbury.

The Service requirements for the support and care were divided into three Lots and organisations were able to bid for 1 or more Lot.

The Council required the Provider(s) to provide high quality and person-centred care and support for people assessed by the Council or in exceptional circumstance the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as being eligible for health and social care support under the provisions of The Care Act 2014 and The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS Funded Nursing Care 2022 The ownership of the properties is split between 2 Registered Landlords, it being a prerequisite for the contract award that the successful provider entered into agreements with these landlords for the purpose of using office accommodation (where this is available), and (where this is necessary) delivering housing management functions, on site.

The Provider will deliver services via its support workers based at the locations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including bank holidays and public holidays as required

All services include the provision of Shared support for daytime hours, additional support and all include a minimum of sleeping cover for night-time hours.

The Provider was required to have a good track record and be rated by CQC as ‘Good’ or above in 50% of their registered service portfolio or be rated ‘Good’ or above if they only have one other service.

The Provider will ensure that all Staff have a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check carried out prior to undertaking work with Service Users and shall renew existing staff checks at regular intervals in line with guidance from the DBS service. Staff will be required to have the highest level of DBS check in accordance with the safe and fair recruitment guide set by Skills for Care.

The Council was of the opinion that TUPE may apply.

The services required fall under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). As a result, this procurement is undertaken under the 'Light Touch Regime' as detailed in Section 7 of PCR 2015.