1. Supported Living Market Engagement Slides
Procurement Services
Supported Living Market Engagement Slides

2. Commercial Challenges
All Supported Living placements in Essex are purchased on a spot basis, leading to a broad range of rates for services
Contracts for placements are aged and new terms are required to reflect the current market and service levels expected in Essex
Co-ordinated oversight of the market is required, and a clearer picture regarding the specialisation of each scheme and voids in each
A formalised process for identifying the most suitable placements for adults is required including quality and value considerations
ECC is seeking to address these immediate challenges through a procurement process designed to give greater oversight of the market and put in place robust procedures for the placing of Adults into Supported Living.

3. ECC Commercial Aims
To promote the supported living model including ‘Increasing Independence’ and ‘Good Lives’ philosophies; ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Care Act
To regulate placement costs and reduce variations in prices across the supply chain, driving best value for the Council
To ensure compliant and effective contractual arrangements and embed a consistent process for placement of Adults
To promote Adult choice when placements are being made and find the most suitable accommodation for each Adult
To drive and standardise quality provision in the market place
To have greater oversight of the market and the challenges for future provision
To encourage the development of high quality and best value new capacity in the Supported Living market in Essex

4. Procurement Plans
ECC proposes to introduce a framework into the Supported Living market to operate for a period of 4 years and allowing new entrants at regular intervals
The framework will require providers to submit an hourly rate which includes both personal care and shared care (core) services within defined bandings for standard and complex needs and these will apply for all new placement
All providers will have to meet minimum quality standards outlined in order to be accepted on to the framework
Providers will be required to bring forward schemes to which they have access and at which ECC can place Adults; schemes must be assessed through ECC’s APB process prior to new placements being made at them
Where schemes have been scheme reviewed and the level of core service has been approved by ECC it is proposed to move the payment of core services through the framework to a single invoice approach; schemes that have yet to be reviewed will continue to be paid under the current approach
ECC are contracting with the care provider only, and the care provider would be responsible for the formation of commercial relationships with landlords to enable placements to be made at schemes

5. Placement Process
At the point of placement a ranked list of approved providers will be generated for the adult according to the needs and support requirements of the individual. Providers that can meet the need of the adult in each district will be ranked on quality and cost criteria.
A matching tool will be utilised by ECC that will seek to match the adult to available vacancies based on key criteria including location, type of scheme (e.g. flat, shared house etc.), required facilities/adaptations, compatibility with core service and other adults
Once suitable vacancies have been identified, the adult will be presented with the top three vacancies first and offered the chance to visit these schemes should they wish
The adult will have complete choice as to which schemes they wish to visit and ultimately where they would like to live; where the adult does not select one of the three proposed, the next three highest ranked schemes will be offered and this will continue until a choice is made
The ranked list approach allows ECC to structure the offer made to the adult but does not exclude the adult from selecting where they live from any of the options available on the framework