The Committee will receive a report to consider Nursing Dementia Block Bed Contracts to secure future provision for Reading residents.

The Committee received a report to consider Nursing Dementia Block Bed Contracts to secure future provision for Reading residents.

The report explained that ACE Committee on 22 October 2020 (Minute 2 refers) had authorised Adult Social Care commissioning to offer and manage new block contracts of up to 15 beds each to total 30 beds (for 01/10/2021), each contract would be for the term of two years with the option to extend for up to a further four years. One of the nursing dementia block contracts (of 15 beds) was terminated by the provider in September 2023, more than halving the Council’s secured provision. A Needs Analysis had been completed in 2024 to determine the provision, needs and options within the Borough and determined the need to replace the terminated contract with four contracts of five beds each totalling 20 block beds over a 10-year contract.

It was reported that the South of England was currently experiencing capacity issues in the market for nursing dementia beds resulting in hospital discharge delays and causing an increase in the fees paid for such placements. Reading Council therefore must ensure that provision was available to meet the Council’s needs.  The report outlined the need and demand in Reading for service users requiring nursing dementia care.

Commissioning officers were preparing a tender for the Council to secure future provision for Reading residents and reduce the overall cost of placements for the Council. The report outlined options considered and recommended that the Council commission four block bed contracts of five beds under a capped tender price of £1,009 per bed per week.  The contracts would run for five years with an option to extend for a further five years with the full lifetime of the contract at a maximum price of £10,061,613 and cost avoidance of £2,074,148.

Resolved –  

(1)           That the Executive Director of Communities and Adult Social Care be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, to: 

·       Award the contracts to the successful provider(s) of four block bed contracts of five beds to run for five years with an option to extend for a further five years. The lifetime of the contract budget had been agreed at a maximum price of £10,061,613;

·       Negotiate, vary, extend and manage the contract(s) at the appropriate times throughout the lifecycle within the lifetime financial envelope stated and in accordance with the relevant Procurement Regulations and the contracts.