Homecare Services (WCC - ASC) Sage Care Limited (Northeast Patch)

The Council has a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014 to:

• Ensure appropriate personalised care and support to meet the individual assessed needs of Service Users.
• Maximise independence, focusing on choice and control for people in receipt of Homecare.
• Ensure consistency and continuity of care, minimising service disruption for vulnerable adults and younger adults with disabilities receiving Homecare.

The previous contracts for homecare services expired on 30th April 2025. The Council has been conducting a procurement exercise to put in place new framework and contract arrangements for homecare services. However, the procurement exercise had not concluded prior to expiry of the previous contracts. In addition, the new arrangements require time to fully mobilise. Paragraph 13 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 provides a justification for the direct award of public contracts where it is strictly necessary for reasons of urgency and where a public contract cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering process. The short term direct award is strictly necessary and urgent in order to enable the Council to continue to deliver these critical services to vulnerable clients and fulfil its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 until services fully commence and mobilise under the new framework and contract arrangements. The proposed direct award will provide contractual assurances to suppliers and support the continued delivery of statutory provision