Issue - meetings

Report CS16005

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report seeking permission to extend the Panztel contract from 1^st April 2016 until 31^st March 2017, pending the result of the options appraisal being undertaken around the future delivery of the Reablement Service.

The Reablement Service provided intensive support to vulnerable service users by helping them to maintain or regain simple daily living skills which might have been eroded due to illness or a hospital stay, and to increase their independence by reducing or removing the need for ongoing domiciliary care packages.  The provision of this service was supported by an electronic data collection system provided by Panztel, which monitored the domiciliary visits made by reablement facilitators.

The existing contract with Panztel for provision of the electronic data collection system was due to expire on 31^st March 2016.  To ensure continued provision of this service it was requested that this contract be extended for a period of one year to allow time for the options appraisal to be completed and for consideration to be given to the future delivery of the Reablement Service.

In considering the report, a Member was concerned at the £13k cost to extend the Panztel contract from 1^st April 2016 until 31^st March 2017 and queried if monitoring could be undertaken in an alternate way to realise a cost saving. 

On questioning, Officers confirmed that the electronic data collection system recorded the time that reablement facilitators arrived and left each service user, which could include multiple visits across the day, and that this monitoring showed whether service users were receiving sufficient visits to provide the care detailed in their care plan.  The electronic data collection system also acted as a safeguard for reablement facilitators by showing evidence of their visits.  Members were advised that four complaints had been received since the start of the new calendar year around reablement facilitators not visiting service users as arranged. It was also noted that the system assisted the Controller in planning the schedule of visits for each reablement facilitator and accurately assessing travel time.

A more detailed breakdown of the cost of the electronic data collection system per visit would be provided to Members following the meeting.

RESOLVED by majority that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree to extend the Panztel contract from 1^st April 2016 until 31^st March 2017.