Sourcing Care Service
We want people in Somerset to live healthy and independent lives, supported by thriving and connected communities with timely and easy access to high quality and efficient support when they need it. A key part of this is ensuring there is sufficient, reliable, sustainable and timely care and support that is of excellent quality and promotes people’s wellbeing.
The Sourcing Care Service at Somerset County Council offers a vital function in securing care and support packages for individuals requiring it, and should be made aware of all changes and amendments to all Somerset County Council packages of care to enable contract changes:
- Awarding Open Framework Contracts on Proactis;
- Receiving Notice and changes to Packages of care to amend all contracts on Proactis;
- Receiving notification of any change to a package of care to amend all contracts on Proactis;
- Amending the authority payment system to reflect the contract changes.
Care Act statutory guidance states that ‘high quality, personalized care and support can only be achieved where there is a vibrant, responsive market of services available’ and, to this end, the team works very closely with commissioning colleagues to identify unmet need and gaps in the market, and support sufficiency and efficiency.
Peak periods and holiday seasons create pressure and strain on the health and care system which can result in people failing to get the care they need in a timely way; this can have a detrimental impact on people’s health and wellbeing and can be distressing for families and individuals.
Our key aspiration is to support the wider health and care system in being able to maintain flow through services, and meet anticipated demand within available resources as often as possible.
We work closely with providers to try and ensure Somerset has the provision we require over busy periods.
We have developed an Escalation Plan – aligned to NHS England’s Operational Pressure Escalation Levels (OPEL) 1 to 4 Framework – to help clarify the triggers and responses required, as a system, when our ability to provide timely home care support is compromised.
This aims to set clear and coordinated expectations around roles and responsibilities for all those involved in escalation in response to surge pressures. It should be regarded ‘in operation’ on a year round basis:
Sourcing Care Service support offer
The Sourcing Care Service offers a free support service which includes:
- Processing requests for care services and advertising these to care providers contracted on our framework
- Awarding Open Framework Contracts on Proactis
- Receiving Notice and changes to Packages of care to amend all contracts on Proactis
- Receive notification of any change to a package of care to amend all contracts on Proactis
- Amend the authority payment system to reflect the contract changes
- Monitoring bed vacancy rates across local provider settings
- Identifying and monitoring unmet need and gaps in provision in the market
- Supporting sufficiency and efficiency of provision through close working with commissioners and providers
- Serving as a bridge between operational social care teams, local providers and clients and their families
How we will work with you
- We will advertise available homecare opportunities for core home care and reablement packages of care on a daily basis (Mon-Fri)
- We will advertise available placement opportunities on a daily basis (Mon-Fri)
- We will advertise current OPEL Status (Escalation Status) in relation to levels of unmet need
- We will link with residential and nursing providers to understand available bed capacity and vacancies
- We will award contracts
- We will encourage staff members to get to know their ‘patches’ and localities, understand your provision, and develop good working relationships with your care coordinators based on mutual support
- We will support you in the event of business continuity challenges associated with adverse weather conditions (snow; flooding etc) to understand if any of your service users are not receiving care or are requiring urgent assistance, and confirm what additional support you may require from the Local Authority.
Contact us
Email: sourcingcareservice@somerset.gov.uk
Have you recently received support from Somerset’s Sourcing Care Team? We’d love to hear about your experience.
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