In April 2024, the Care Agency issued a tender for the provision of after-school respite services for children and young people with learning disabilities. The aim, as announced at the time, was to improve access, formalise care arrangements and secure more suitable facilities than those currently in use at the Boat House. Despite strong interest, no applicant was deemed suitable, primarily due to the complex requirement to provide both care and premises under a single contract.

Following this outcome, and in full compliance with public procurement rules and with the explicit consent of the Procurement Office, HMGoG and the Care Agency entered into direct negotiations with PossAbilities, one of the original applicants to the tender, whose response at the time was found to be the most closely aligned with the requirements and expectations of the Care Agency. PossAbilities is a well-established provider of specialist care, with a track record of delivering high-quality support for individuals with complex needs.

These discussions have now led to the development of a new, expanded service model that will significantly enhance the delivery of respite care for children and young adults with learning disabilities. In fact, it will increase the number of children and young adults able to access the service by 9 from 35 at present to 44 under the new proposal.

Under the proposed arrangement, most service users will be cared for at dedicated premises managed by PossAbilities, with the Care Agency retaining strategic oversight and responsibility for contract management.

Key improvements include the introduction of a dedicated bus service, directly addressing concerns raised by families regarding transport during inclement weather, and enhanced leadership capacity within the service.

The revised model represents a £600,000 annual saving on current costs and addresses existing inequalities in access, enabling the Care Agency to meet growing demand more equitably and sustainably.

Consultation with families will now begin, and the Care Agency will work closely with PossAbilities to develop an implementation plan. Rollout is expected to begin in September 2025, subject to the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding and insurance arrangements between the parties.

The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “This is an important service which families rely on and our children deserve. We have listened to parents, recognised the limitations of the current model and worked within the proper frameworks to design a more equitable and sustainable service. This proposal does not only increase the amount of children and young adults that can access the service, important though that is, it also ensures fairness and delivers care in a setting that is both safe and purpose-built. I am especially pleased that, alongside these improvements, we are also achieving real value for money. This ensures the sustainability of the service going forward. We will continue to work closely with families to make sure this transition is smooth and that the needs of every child remain at the heart of everything we do."

ENDS