This report proposes that the Council join the Berkshire Community Equipment Service Partnership commissioning process, with West Berkshire Council as the lead authority, to commission a service for the provision of equipment and technological products to support people to live as independently as possible at home.

The Executive Director of Social Care and Health submitted a report seeking approval to join the Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES) Partnership commissioning process to commission a new service for provision of equipment and technological products to support people to live as independently as possible at home. 

The report noted that the current contract was held between Nottingham Rehabilitation Service Healthcare (now known as Healthcare Pro) and the lead authority (West Berkshire Council) who acted on behalf of the BCES Partnership made up of all six Berkshire Unitary Authorities and the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, and NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board.  The current 5-year contract had commenced on 1 April 2017 and been extended for a further two years to 31 March 2024 with no further contract extension available. 

The report proposed that the Council join the Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES) Partnership commissioning process to commission a new service in line with the end of the current contract.  It was proposed that the partnership enter into a new contract for an initial term of five years from 1 April 2024 with the ability to extend for another two years.

The report noted that the Berkshire Community Equipment service had been provided for over seven years and was well embedded in professional practice across Berkshire in both health and social care partners.  The service and the provision of equipment played a significant role in keeping people safe and provided assurance to carers thus enabling independent living in people’s own homes and reducing the impact on other more costly care services such as hospital admission, care home or domiciliary care provision.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Council enter into a joint procurement, led by West Berkshire for the provision of a County wide Community Equipment service on behalf of the Berkshire Community Equipment Partnership to go live on 1 April 2024, with a maximum total cost to the Council of £6.486m for a maximum term of 7 years (5 years with the option to extend for up to 2 years);

(2)      That the Executive Director of Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services, be authorised to enter into a contract with West Berkshire Council for the provision of Equipment services post Procurement.