Framework for: The Provision of a Regulated Care at Home Service

Referral Procedure Requests for services made to Providers made under this Framework Agreement will come from the Brokerage Team, which may come from: - • The Councils internal Support at Home Assessment Team, where individuals will have undergone an assessment period with the team which has determined their needs and outcomes. • Directly from the Social Work Network teams. • Direct discharge from hospitals also known as SAH IDC. Requests for support will be distributed from Brokerage in the form of a Distribution List which will be circulated to all the commissioned providers through email. The frequence of this circulation will depend on the need and number of individuals on the list, which can fluctuate. Framework Providers must submit a response to Brokerage stating their availability and a proposed start date which should be within 7 days of the offer being placed. Brokerage will then award the package in accordance with the Call Off Procedure and notify the successful Framework Provider of the outcome. Criteria Assessment a. Provider Profile - including regulatory and organisational status meets the requirements of the contract. b. Quality, safeguarding, Performance & Contract Compliance – ascertained from Council records and reports/updates provided by the council’s Network teams. c. Compliance with the Council’s relevant returns, invoicing, and performance and monitoring processes – ascertained from Council records and reports. d. Capacity and Geographical Coverage - a Provider’s capacity will be ascertained for each care package. The Providers engagement with social work network teams and MDT meetings. e. The Providers economic viability and sustainability, and their availability and timeliness to commence the package of support. Call-off Procedure following the criteria met by Framework Providers: Purchasing individual care packages under the Framework shall be conducted as follows: The overall weekly cost of a care package will be calculated using the unit rates submitted by Providers for the total weekly assessed hours of support required. Evidence of working in an outcome focused way and enabling individuals to regain and or maintain their levels of independence. Where more than one Framework Provider has come forward with capacity for an available package of care, the Brokerage Team will consider them in accordance with the above criteria and the Provider demonstrating the most economically advantageous service and/or most favourable terms for the Individual shall be offered the package. A password-protected copy of the Individual’s Care and Support Plan or Care and Treatment Plan, plus an Individual Service Agreement (ISA) will then be forwarded to the allocated Framework Provider via email. In accordance with GDPR regulations, the sharing of relevant passwords will be done separately to the initial email. The Framework Provider should ensure that where possible referrals to them are handled and processed within two (2) working days of receipt, with an introductory/assessment visit made to the Individual (and where applicable) their Carer with the whole process being completed within 7 days. The Framework Provider will confirm acceptance of the care and support package by signing the ISA and returning it via a secure link to the Brokerage Team following their introductory/assessment visit. Commissioned services must have an appropriate Admissions and Commencement of Service Policy in place that sets out their approach to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition and start of the service process. Exceptions to the call-off procedure, where Framework Providers are unable to respond to service requests in a timely way, will be undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. See tender pack for further guidance.