Agenda item

The Board had before it a report by Katharine Paton (Learning Disabilities Service Manager, ACHSCP) that sought approval to recommission the Framework for Learning Disability services by replacing the existing framework with (1) a Framework for Supported Living Services; and (2) a Framework for Training and Skills Development Services which would be commissioned in partnership with Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

The report recommended:-

That the Board –

(a)       Agree to retender the provision of Supported Learning for people with a learning disability in the form of a Framework for supported living with a separate lot for Enhanced Care provision, to the timelines detailed within the report;

(b)       Agree to retender the provision of ‘lifestyle support’ for people with a learning disability in the form of a Framework for Training and Skills Development Services through joint commissioning with Aberdeenshire; and

(c)       Note that another paper would be presented to the Board in early 2018 detailing the result of the tender process and seeking approval to issue contracts.

Jennifer Rae (Principal Planning Officer, ACHSCP) proposed not to extend the current two year Learning Disabilities contract for a further year and to replace existing arrangements from 1 April 2018 with three redesigned frameworks covering Supported Living Services; Training and Skills Development Services; and Care at Home. She also highlighted the proposed introduction of standard and enhanced care rates to take cognizance of support provided by carers to individuals with complex learning disabilities and to enable commissioners to model the cost of care on an hourly basis based on the Scottish Living Wage and other statutory employment requirements to fulfil the recommendations of the Ethical Care Charter.

Thereafter there were questions and comments on the standard and enhanced cost of care rates; the consistency of care provision during implementation of the three frameworks to support learning disability clients; the risk that providers may choose to remove themselves from the current framework and concentrate on Care at Home services; the importance of carer involvement at the earliest possible opportunity; the transition timeline from the existing model to the new frameworks; the impact on existing providers and service specification during the tendering process; and proposals for a joint commissioning arrangement with Aberdeenshire HSCP for the Training and Skills Development Services Framework.

With regards to the joint commissioning proposal, Catherine King (Commercial and Procurement Services) provided assurance to the Board that the Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Commercial and Procurement Service intended to lead on this and confirmed they were always supportive of joint working wherever possible.

The Board resolved:-

(i)            to agree to retender the provision of Supported Learning for people with a learning disability in the form of a Framework for supported living with a separate lot for Enhanced Care provision, to the timelines detailed within the report;

(ii)          to agree to retender the provision of ‘lifestyle support’ for people with a learning disability in the form of a Framework for Training and Skills Development Services through joint commissioning with Aberdeenshire;

(iii)         to note that another paper would be presented to the Board in early 2018 detailing the result of the tender process and seeking approval to issue contracts;

(iv)         to request that the Partnership engage with unpaid carers at the earliest opportunity in regards to the development of the Learning Disability Framework;

(v)          to instruct the Chief Officer to develop a reporting process which would outline when the Board would be required to take further decisions on this workstream; and

(vi)         to approve a formal Direction to Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report and instruct the Chief Officer to issue that Direction to the Chief Executives of Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian.