Extra Care Housing

The Council is committed to increasing the use of Extra Care Housing as an alternative to residential care for older people, to enable them to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible. Current provision of Extra Care Housing (ECH) is focused on 5 schemes which the Council has 100% nomination rights to.

These 5 sites provide 244 units in total. There are an additional 2 new schemes being built that are due to be completed within 2017 that will provide an additional 72 units that the Council will have nomination rights to.

Reading Borough Council will shortly be tendering for Care Services within these seven Extra Care Sheltered Housing Schemes. These seven schemes will be available as four lots with separate bids for each scheme.

The successful tenderer will run one or more lot and provide onsite care to these schemes. We are preparing the tender at present and would welcome feedback from interested parties as to the costs involved in operation of the service.

The Council is committed to implementing the UNISON Ethical Care Charter as part of this contract to include payment of the Living Wage Foundation living wage of £8.25 per hour and paid training. The target price range for this procurement has been calculated as between £13.34 and £15.80 an hour.

This range was calculated using a model based on the UKHCA cost model for home care (attached in the synopsis) and the assumptions outlined in the cost assumptions document (attached in the synopsis)This model is similar to the version used in the Council’s Home Care Framework Procurement and as such we have retained some of the cost information given to us in the previous consultation. We also would like to receive feedback on the rates quoted.

We would be grateful if potential providers could confirm whether or not they believe the price range is realistic (at 2016 rates for the LWF living wage £8.25 ph). Please advise us of any other costs we need to take into account .

Should you believe that any of the assumptions, or cost calculations are incorrect, we would be grateful if you provide an explanation of the correct cost measures to be used. If your organisation would not be able to provide the service within the price range please advise the rate you would require along with justifications of this increase.

If you wish to feedback to the council please do so by 20th April 2016 in order that we can amend our proposals in light of your comments. If you wish to provide a response, you should select 'view details' and then 'express interest' and the use the 'new correspondence' facility to submit your comments. Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No