6.1.
Review into the Letting of the Domiciliary Care
contract
Documents:
- Report of
the Strategic Director, Resources
- WAO Review
of the Letting of a Domiciliary Care Contract to Alpha Care
Limited
Issues:
- Three
reports regarding domiciliary care had been issued – one by
the IPC which had been commissioned by the Authority, CSSIW and the
WAO report which focuses on the letting of the
contract.
- It was
intended that one action plan addressing all three reports be
produced
- The issues
raised were relevant across the Authority and not limited to Adult
Social Care
County Councillor L Fitzpatrick left the meeting at
10.15am
County Councillors G Ratcliffe and W D Powell arrived at 10.15
am
- Three
recommendations had been made by the WAO – the Strategic
Director, People was to lead on Recommendation 1 and the Strategic
Director, Resources would lead on Recommendations 2 and
3.
- It was
intended that the Action Plan would be monitored by Audit Committee
on a regular basis
- Dates in
paragraphs 37, 40 and 47 were corrected and a revised report would
be issued
Discussion:
- Assurance
was sought from officers that the Authority had sufficient
expertise to draw up documents, ensure data was correct and that
projects of this type could be carried forward. The Strategic Director, Resources commented that
the issue was applicable across the Authority and that a key
message from the Review was that transformational change would have
to be properly resourced. At the time
the contract under discussion was let, the Authority had one
Procurement Manager. A Commercial
Services team has since been established from existing officers who
are being trained to meet the Authority’s
requirements. However, the Team can
only advise and support service areas.
The Strategic Director, People noted that the role of Commercial
Services to any future work would be critical. The Adult Commissioning Team had also been
strengthened. Further work has been
undertaken to strengthen data analysis and it was acknowledged that
whilst progress had been made, further improvements would be
sought.
- It had been
hoped that the Portfolio Holder for Commissioning would have been
able to attend, but Members queried whether lessons had been learnt
from the exercise. There were further
queries regarding accountability and whether there had been any
conflict of interest with an officer involved in the
process. The WAO were aware of the
issue but had not discovered any evidence of
impropriety.
- Members
noted that issues had been highlighted by a Project Group which
were not reported through to Cabinet.
The flow of information must be highlighted at every stage and a
request was made that this issue be incorporated within the Action
Plan.
- Members
also requested that the Action Plan be SMART and that mistakes
should be admitted where they occurred
- The
Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care was asked if he had
sufficient resources to deliver the service and whether he could
give any assurance that that there would be no reoccurrence of such
issues. The Portfolio Holder replied
that he was required to deliver a range of services which all
carried an inherently high risk as they were supporting vulnerable
clients. The requirements to deliver a
safe service, deliver savings and deliver transformation were
onerous but the WAO review would assist in helping to reduce
risks.
- The WAO
were asked if, during the course of their review, they were aware
that any officer was reluctant or intimidated to bring information
forward. The WAO confirmed that no
officer raised any concern. It had been
noted that the project had needed to be delivered quickly and flows
communication were not always evident.
Furthermore, consideration by Members outside of Cabinet was
lacking and there had been insufficient scrutiny by Audit and
Scrutiny committees leading to a lack of an independent review of
the issues.
- The Chair
noted that there was an ongoing Adult Social Care scrutiny group
and suggested that there be further dialog between the Group and
Audit Committee regarding further support and co-ordination between
the two.
- Members
asked what training and development would be put in place as a
result of the review and were informed that this would feature in
the Action Plan
- A comment
was made that the Audit Committee had not taken sufficient notice
when concerns were raised by a member of the Committee. The Chair noted the learning that needed to happen
and asked that the Committee work more as a team and that a
discussion would be taking place with the Strategic Director,
Resources, regarding the future role of the Committee and its
working groups to ensure a more focussed and proactive approach
could be taken forward.
Outcomes:
- The Action Plan would be circulated to all Members of Audit
Committee once drafted. It is expected
that it would be considered by Cabinet on 23 February.
- The Action Plan would be SMART to facilitate constructive
monitoring
- Further discussions to take place on the role of the Committee
and its working groups
- Further discussions with the Adult Social Care Working Group to
ensure greater co-ordination
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