Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre (Bellshill)

Cumbernauld Action on Care for the Elderly (CACE) (Cumbernauld)

Responsible service

Adult Social Work Services

What is the policy/strategy/function/trying to achieve/do?

• To address the current imbalance in the provision of services to citizens aged 65+, who have a disability and \ or long-term condition, with the overall aim of ensuring equitable provision across the authority area and to redress the current service provision imbalance in a fair, appropriate, and sustainable way.
• To meet legislative requirements as set out in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. North Lanarkshire Council cannot directly offer renewed contracts to the organisations in question, without consideration of the wider market.

If this is a budget saving, how will the saving be achieved?

This is not a budget saving. Whilst current direct awards to each organisation will cease, both will have the opportunity to bid for resourcing through a more open and equitable process.

If this policy is subject to the FSD, what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage? (Please refer to FSD Interim Guidance

Not Applicable

Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals. 

Reviews of the respective services indicate that people using ONC or CACE day service provision value the services highly. However, no significant or long-term negative impacts have been identified through the decision to cease direct awards and move to a more open and competitive award process. 
Current service provision is clearly valued, but is not unique, and in many facets, duplicates, or is similar to, other forms of support readily available in both localities. The conclusion is that whilst there may be potential for some short-term uncertainty and impact if or when any new arrangements are implemented, it is likely there would be no significant detriment to current beneficiaries of the existing services, should change arrangements be implemented.

It is also possible that the existing providers may be the successful bidder(s) through any new process, meaning that any change arising, would be minimal, if at all.

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?

Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, and the Northern Corridor has a range of other supports and services that could meet age related needs, and many people using the CACE service above, are already also linked into these services.

As an additional safeguard and reassurance, individual reviews may take place with people currently accessing the services and already known to Social Work. 

For those people currently using either service who are not known to Social Work, universal or targeted services will have a role in ensuring that people are able to access support appropriate to their needs.

Many of the current beneficiaries already have other forms of support in place, whether through assistive technology, statutory service provision or other CVS provision, or an individual budget, as part of the wider approach to Self-Directed Support. 

In further mitigation, a wide range of support options, both for unpaid carers, and for supported people, are in place now, that were not all readily available in previous years. 

The new Orbiston HUB is a further mitigation in relation to ONC offering a neighbourhood focal point for citizens and access to a range of information, advice, services, and a means of reducing any risk of isolation.

What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA? 

Implement the change.