Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report detailing the changes which Worcestershire County Council had decided to make in relation to the way in which the provision of Telecare (Lifeline) Services in Worcestershire was funded by the County Council. It was noted that the County Council now intended to make payments through one single organisation rather than to individual providers together with other proposed changes to give residents an updated and improved service. This could include additional services such as “Telehealth”. 

It was reported that officers from Community Services had been in discussions with Worcestershire Telecare with a view to submitting a joint tender for Supporting People Funding to provide a Lifeline service across Worcestershire. This would be on the basis of Worcestershire Telecare acting as the lead contractor and sub-contracting the Bromsgrove and Redditch elements of the service to be provided by Community Services. It was noted that whilst the tender specification had not yet been issued, it was likely that in order to bid for the contract it would be necessary to involve a third party equipment provider.

The likely financial implications in relation to the potential loss of funding received through Supporting People were noted but at this stage officers were not in a position to assess the full options.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the proposal for the Community Services Team to enter into a joint working agreement with Worcestershire Telecare (and a third party equipment provider if required) in order to bid for a contract with Worcestershire County Council for the provision of Telecare Services across Worcestershire be approved; and

(b)       that in the event the bid is successful, delegated authority be granted to the Acting Head of Community Services and to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services to finalise and implement the necessary legal agreements for the provision of Telecare services under the new arrangements.