Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services - Hertfordshire

This notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board's intention to award this contract following a direct award process C to its incumbent supplier, Bupa Care Homes, to continue to deliver Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services within Hertfordshire.

This notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board's intention to award this contract following a direct award process C to its incumbent supplier, Bupa Care Homes, to continue to deliver Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services within Hertfordshire.

The contract which will commence on 1st April 2025 and will end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further year to 31st March 2027.

The continuing care in-patient care home service is available for adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a Hertfordshire GP and have been determined as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare and who have expressed a care home placement and whose needs can be best met within that environment. The service is accessible to anyone with a medical condition that can be safely and appropriately managed in a care home environment.

Elements to be provided by the service are likely to include:

a) Case management approach.

b) The nursing process: formal review by named nurse and senior support staff.

c) Promoting Health and wellbeing.

d) Multidisciplinary working.

e) Inter-agency working.

f) Advocacy.

g) Process of dealing with referrals and pre-admission arrangements.

h) Admission arrangements.

i) Physical environment (security and maintenance).

j) Risk assessment and management.

k) Safeguarding vulnerable adults procedure.

l) Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

m) Relatives’ support.

n) Infection control procedures.

o) Acute Care Management.

p) End of life care.

q) Step up or step down arrangements.

r) Discharge arrangements.

s) Aftercare - bereavement/follow ups.

Bupa Care Homes operate a number of homes throughout the Hertfordshire area from which these services will be provided. The contract has been in place with Bupa Care Homes since April 2013 with a cumulative contract value to 31st March 2024 of £44,915,215.

The maximum value of the new contract is £1,530,997 per annum. Should the optional extension be used, the maximum contract value for the 2-year period is £3,061,994.