Care Home Strategy Co-production Group
Tuesday 16th March 2015
2.00p.m. to 4.00p.m
Attendees:
David Smallacombe - Chair (DS), Sam Hawker (SH), Paul Butler (PB), Janet Goodfellow (JG),
Catherine Martin (CM), Rob Logan (RL) Rob Manning (RM)
Apologies:
Leon Goddard (LG), Ros Cox (RC), Damaris Howard (DH), Rick Thompstone (RT), Jan Little
(JL),
Discussion Topics
1.
Action
Owners
Introduction and Inflationary Uplift
DS opened the meeting and introduced RL to provide information to the group on
BCC’s proposals for inflationary uplift payments for the following financial year:
1) The Care Home contract includes a formula which bases inflationary
uplift on a minimum of 70% wage inflation and 30% price inflation. Wage
inflation is measured according to the National Joint Conditions pay
award for local government staff and is currently equivalent to 1.1% per
year across two years (2014/15 & 2015/16. Price inflation will be
measured according to Retail Price Index (January) (RPIJ) which has
run at 0.5% over the previous twelve months.
2) The proposal is to increase rates for residential and nursing care by
th
0.92% as of 5 April 2015. This is composed of 70% of 1.1% and 30% of
0.5%. The uplift will apply to all residential and nursing services.
Providers currently undergoing strategic institutional safeguarding
investigations will have this payment suspended until such time as they
leave said investigations.
3) The group acknowledged BCC budget pressures but did voice concerns
as to the size of the proposed uplift in light of provider costs and
increases to the national minimum wage. Concerns were acknowledged
by RL who informed the group that the proposal was unlikely to alter
though further market communication will be taking place over the
coming weeks. He did however agree to take the messages back to
BCC to inform the remaining process.
2.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as a true and accurate
reflection.
3.
Recommissioning Proposals
1) CM standing in for LG took the meeting through the pre-prepared
explanatory note on the current process for the recommissioning of
residential and nursing care. BCC are looking to engage with the market
as early as possible to ensure that feedback is taken on board as the
process develops.
2) An accreditation process is set to begin in April 2015 which will be open
to all current providers used by BCC as well as any other providers
within the city of Bristol. The accreditation process is designed to
precede (and fall outside of) the formal tender process which will begin
in September 2015. Only accredited providers will be entitled to bid for
either block contracts or spot purchases through the dynamic purchasing
system. The meeting asked that this point be highlighted in future
communications to the market.
3) The meeting asked for clarity on the extent of the accreditation process
and the policies to be detailed in full to be communicated as soon as
1
CM/LG
CM/LG
Discussion Topics
Action
Owners
possible. It was also requested that information regarding the formal
tender be communicated as quickly as practicable. CM to confirm details
and communication timescales with LG.
4) It was suggested that as the process will be run jointly with CCG that a
CCG representative be invited to the CDG in future. It was also
requested that the revised service specification for the tender be shared
with CDG as soon as possible for further discussion and honing. CM
confirmed that the specification was still being drafted and would be
shared as soon as possible. CM to confirm a CCG representative and
timescales on the service specification with LG.
CM/LG
5) DS enquired as to the details of when/how the accreditation process will
run throughout the year going forward. RM explained that the new
procurement regulations on the matter were unclear hence the question
has been submitted to legal for consideration. CM confirmed that this will
be communicated to CDG once clarity was received and that future
communications to CDG will include reference to this.
6) The meeting suggested that trialling the DPS spot purchase process with
existing service user care plans could be a useful way of ensuring clarity
for BCC and the provider market as to how this will work in the future.
CM will take the suggestion to LG for consideration
7) Provider days are planned to be held in April in order to communicate full
expectations ahead of the formal tender process and to inform providers
of suggested preparations. DS requested that this be used to provide the
market with full expectations of what is required in order for providers to
succeed at Stage 1B of the process and that as much notice of provider
days be given to the market as possible.
8) It was suggested that much of the information likely to be requested as
part of the accreditation process will exist as part of providers PIRs. The
meeting agreed to share PIRs with LG ahead of the next meeting.
th
9) Next meeting – Thursday 16 April.
2
CM/LG
JL/SH/PB