Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director for Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approves a procurement process to establish a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) and procure a range of community services which reflect the principles of mental health recovery model and at its conclusion successful bidders are appointed by the Strategic Director ACHPH for a period of 5 years. 

Consideration was given to the report which outlined proposals for a Flexible Purchasing System for a new care and support model for Mental Health recovery focussed Community Services. Mental Health Care and Support Services were necessary to meet the Council’s statutory requirements. A review of current care and support provision indicated the need to improve the Community Service model to one which offered mental health recovery support, personalised social care with increased choice and control for people living with mental ill-health.

          The new model had been co-produced in partnership with people accessing Services and their supporting professionals to inform service design. The aim of the Service was to support people to achieve independent living skills and move towards and sustain independent living in the communities in which they live. This was in line with the guiding principles of the mental health recovery framework for people who were deemed eligible for support under the Care Act 2014. This model promoted the identification of the strengths of individuals and offered them support to build the resilience necessary to enable them to regain control over their lives after experiencing a serious mental illness.

          A Flexible Purchasing System would increase choice and improve outcomes for people in Rotherham. It would comprise a number of separate lots and each lot would specify a community service with the principle of mental health recovery at its core. This included supported living, day opportunities and preventative services.

          The recommendations in the report were likely to complement Government’s proposal to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 and modernise mental health care to ensure that patients were involved more closely in decisions about their care and treatment. The types of services required were set out in section 1.7 of the report.

          The options considered were set out in section 3 of the report. The options of a market-led approach and the development of in-house provisions were not recommended. The Flexible Purchasing System model had been recommended for approval because it would allow the Council to procure a range of Community Services which reflect the principles of the Mental Health Recovery Framework to develop specialist provision in the Rotherham market. The range of services would be high quality and would have the required capacity and capability at competitive market prices. It was proposed that the Flexible Procurement System was advertised with an indicative 5 year duration, and the model would continue beyond this period if it remained fit for purpose. Organisations would be able to apply to join the FPS for as long as the model remained advertised.

          Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve a procurement process to establish a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) and procure a range of Community Services which reflect the principles of mental health recovery model and at its conclusion successful bidders are appointed by the Strategic Director Adult Care, Housing and Public Health for a period of 5 years.