Decision

The Executive Board has decided to extend and recommission domiciliary care, crisis response, and commissioned night services contracts to ensure equal access for all communities.

Analysis

outcome: The Executive Board has approved the extension and recommissioning of the mentioned services, with specific procurement strategies and contract lengths outlined.

summary: The decision involves the extension and recommissioning of domiciliary care, crisis response, and commissioned night services contracts to ensure equal access to services for all communities.

topline: The Executive Board has decided to extend and recommission domiciliary care, crisis response, and commissioned night services contracts to ensure equal access for all communities.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious due to the potential impact on service providers, community access, and the allocation of a significant contract value.

affected_stakeholders: ["Service providers", "Community members", "Children's Services"]

contentiousness_score: 7

political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties in the decision.

URL: https://democracy.blackburn.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1396

Decision Maker: Executive Board

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   That Executive Board:   1.    Agree to the 12-month extension of the existing Domiciliary Care, Crisis Response and Commissioned Night Service contracts to allow further consultation and co-design with the community, including work with the Working Together with Everyone co-production group to ensure all communities continue to have equal access to the service. 2.    Delegate approval of the finalised specification to the Strategic Director of Adults & Health, in consultation with the Executive Member for Adults Social Care & Health. 3.    Approve the recommissioning of the Care at Home service that recognises the importance of neighbourhood working and being able to meet individual community needs. 4.    Approve the recommissioning of a Crisis Response Service and Commissioned Night Service. 5.    Approve the decision to recommission the Care at Home service, based on the following procurement strategy: a)    Undertake an open tender exercise to comply with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Council’s Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules. b)    Approve the extension of the current contracting arrangements for 12 months, to enable the new service to commence on 1 October 2027. c)    Approve a contract length of 4 years with an optional plus one-year extension, totalling an approximate contract value of £80,000,000 based on current usage and pricing structure outlined in the report below. This will be in line with the contract length of the current Care at Home Service.   6.    Approve the inclusion of options within the tender and specification for providers to confirm their willingness to deliver complex care at home. This could be considered as a potential additional element of the contract subject to there being a clear agreement from the ICB and confirmation that it is feasible to include within the final service model. If included, it would allow the ICB to utilise this contract in relevant cases if they chose to in the future; aligning care at home delivery and unit cost between organisations. 7.    Approve the inclusion of a children’s care at home specification, to give providers the option to deliver this care where they choose and are able to do so. This could be considered as part of the wider service design subject to confirmation of need from Children’s Services and agreement that it is feasible to include within the overall model.

Date of Decision: August 13, 2026