Decision details

Following on from the Co-operative Executive’s approval in July 2021 of the Commissioning Plan for Community Dementia Support 2021-27 and associated procurement, the purpose of this report is to seek Executive Director approval for:

• The procurement and award of a contract for the Dementia Specialist Advice Service which:
  • provides advice and training for professionals and volunteers supporting people living with dementia and their carers
  • fills a gap to provide a single point of access into local community dementia support for people living with dementia and their carers; and

• The award of grants to:
  • 10 People Keeping Well lead partner organisations for local community dementia support across the city covering the 18 People Keeping Well partnerships; and
  • Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance to support Sheffield becoming a dementia-friendly city; and
  • Sheffield Dementia Involvement Group to hear the voices of people living with dementia and their carers; and

•         The authorisation of an extension of the current grant to Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA) to the start of the new SDAA grant period, to allow for re-alignment of funding; and

•         The authorisation of the de-commissioning of 4 specifically-located dementia cafes at the end of their current contracts to ensure investment for dementia activities is equitable across the city

The current contracts and grants expire during the period 1st December 2021 – 31st March 2022.

That the Executive Director of People Services:

1. Approves the procurement and award of a contract for the Dementia Specialist Advice Service to the successful bidder, as outlined in the report;

2. Approves the award of grants to the 10 People Keeping Well (PKW) lead partner organisations for local community dementia support across the city covering the 18 People Keeping Well partnership areas, as outlined in the report;

3. a) Approves the extension of the current grant to Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA) to the start of the new SDAA grant period, to allow for re-alignment of funding starting on 01 April 2022, as outlined in the report;

b) Approves the award of a grant to Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance to support Sheffield becoming a dementia-friendly city, as outlined in the report;

4. Approves the award of a grant to Sheffield Hospitals Charity on behalf of Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust for Sheffield Dementia Involvement Group (SHINDIG) to hear the voices of people living with dementia and their carers, as outlined in the report; and

5.    Authorises the de-commissioning of 4 specifically-located dementia cafes at the end of their current contracts on 31 March 2022, to ensure investment for dementia activities is equitable across the city, as outlined in the report.

The preferred option is:

iii    A slight re-alignment of existing community dementia support services

This option was chosen because it:

• Distributes funding where it is most needed and is simplified
• Responds to feedback gathered during the past 3 years from people with dementia, their carers and professionals working with them
• Allows us to update the current service specifications
• Meets with legal and commercial regulations
• Allows the current model to become more fully embedded, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
• Reduces disruptive change for existing users and workers

The intended outcomes are that people living with dementia and their carers will be supported in a dementia-friendly Sheffield to:

• Receive suitable relevant, quality and timely dementia information and advice
• Access good quality community dementia support and participate in activities that are meaningful to them
• Develop and build resilience
• Remain independent, safe and well for as long as reasonable
• Be listened to and involved in future service shaping

In making the recommendations two other options were considered and rejected:

i.               Continue with the existing services, contracts and grants

This alternative was rejected because:

·       It does not respond to feedback gathered during the past 3 years from people with dementia, their carers and professionals working with them

·       It does not allow us to update the current service specifications and

·       It does not meet with legal and commercial regulations

ii.              End the existing services and invest in other new provision

This alternative was also rejected because:

·       The current model begun in 2019 has not yet fully embedded, particularly due to the pandemic

·       More change for existing users would be disruptive