Market Testing for Block Contracts for Residential Care Homes (with or without Nursing) for Older People

This is a preliminary market engagement exercise. The Council is seeking views from providers of residential care (with or without nursing care) on the future commissioning of block bed arrangements in Warwickshire.

The Council currently holds block contracts for 258 beds in care homes in Warwickshire for people aged 65+. The Council pays a rate of around £750 per bed per week for an allocation of beds with each contracted provider and the provider and the Council work to ensure that the utilisation of this capacity is managed closely and void levels are at a minimum during the contract.

The Council and the providers recognise that the block contracts have a number of benefits: Confirmed supply of beds at affordable rates for WCC; Reliable demand and income for the care homes; Faster referral and admission times, and minimal contracting admin for each new person moving into a block bed. The Council wishes to increase the number of beds it block contracts. This would include more beds at the current block rate levels, but the Council would also be interested in care home providers proposals about block contracting for services to meet the needs of people with higher support needs than could be arranged at the current fee levels.