Agenda item

Report CS16003

Report CS16003 considered L B Bromley’s overnight residential short break provision at Hollybank, including outcomes of a service user review undertaken in October 2015.

Forming an integral element of Bromley’s strategy for disabled children and young people, the short break provision provided a preventative service aimed at ensuring disabled children remain within their family home. L B Bromley contributed to joint funding of the provision as a partner with Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG), BCCG currently providing the commissioning lead. The current contract value was apportioned 59% BCCG and 41% L B Bromley, with the service at Hollybank being provided by Bromley Healthcare Community Interest Company (BHC).

Approval was sought to extend the existing contract (due to expire on 31st March 2017) for six months prior to a joint re-tendering with BCCG.

The provision was rated ‘good’ by OfSTED in November 2015. To maintain it on a value for money basis, the number of block commissioned bed spaces might need to be reduced with some current service users offered personal budgets or enhanced day time provision. An enhanced fostering service would also provide scope for reduced demand on Hollybank spaces. A funding model based on the Certitude contract with Adult Social care would also mitigate against an increased demand for bed spaces over and above the block commissioned number.

There was also a clear synergy between the Hollybank service and the service provided by the Integrated Children’s Community Nursing Team (ICCNT) commissioned by Bromley CCG within the community contract. Should integrating Hollybank with ICCNT offer BCCG better value for money in terms of overnight support for those with very complex health needs, it might be necessary to analyse how many additional beds spaces this might potentially require. A decision on future tendering was tied into strategic discussions and decisions between L B Bromley and BCCG on (i) the future of the community contract beyond March 2017 and (ii) the future potential for developing integration between L B Bromley and BCCG across children and adult services. The service specification provided for use of an emergency bed which was not being utilised and it was also necessary to consider whether this continues or whether other arrangements can be put into place when the service is retendered.

In discussion it was highlighted that the number of service users amounted to 58 children as at the end of February 2016.

Based on the calculation of cost/nights available, Cllr Fawthrop (Chairman of Executive and Resources PDS Committee) noted a budgeted unit cost per bed per night of £446 (based on nine available beds) whereas the actual cost amounted to £528 (based on eight beds utilised 95% of the time). Benchmarking across other London local authorities and statistical neighbours indicated this unit cost figure to be slightly higher than average. It was confirmed that this would be looked at when re-tendering. The Leader suggested that more income could be created through greater use of the emergency provision, and in supporting the report’s recommendations, the Leader suggested that it was necessary to achieve improved occupancy levels.  

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the contract for overnight residential short break provision be extended for a period of six months to 30th September 2017; and

(2)  the joint procurement procedure for the provision be commenced in order for a newly commissioned service to be in place from 1st October 2017, which would continue to be led by BCCG as the lead commissioner.