Early Engagement Notice - Domiciliary Care - Winter

Planning for the winter months has been ongoing across the NHS and Local Authorities to ensure there is sufficient capacity over the winter months to meet the needs of individuals requiring health and social care services. It is likely to be another difficult winter with further outbreaks of Covid anticipated along with increased demand on health and social care services and recruitment difficulties still noted in all sectors. Access to timely social care services will be critical to ensure that flow continues through the systems and individuals are able to access appropriate services without delay. On that basis, it is proposed that Doncaster Council seeks to engage a registered domiciliary care provider to deliver a block contract for domiciliary care services to individuals leaving hospital or requiring step up care to avoid short term stays in residential care. This will provide additional capacity in the City to people needing immediate support either to avoid an admission to hospital or to support them to go home after a hospital stay. It is anticipated that this service would commence as soon as possible but no later than 15 December 2022 and continue until 31 March 2023. At the current time it is proposed that the successful provider would deliver services from 6am to 12midnight and should include the availability of two care workers at all times, however, we would welcome feedback within submissions on these areas. The service would need to be delivered across the City with no excluded areas. Any interested parties should provide a written submission outlining: • Overview of the providers skill and experience • An overview of the provision and proposed delivery • A detailed implementation plan to commence the service by 15 December 2022 • A costed breakdown of the fees to deliver the required service - this should include a costed hourly rate per care worker