Central Bedfordshire Council pick up procurement award for Extra Care services

A Best Customer Engagement Initiative of the Year award has been presented to Central Bedfordshire Council, after the authority was successful in engaging external care providers to drive up standards within Extra Care and Sheltered Housing schemes.

The National Go Awards were established nine years ago to recognise innovation within public procurement and to support organisations that achieve high standards of public service delivery.

Through utilising the skills of private sector providers, Central Bedfordshire Council estimates that budget expenditure will be cut by £1m over a five-year period, while allowing for a more versatile deployment of staff to where critical needs become apparent.

Commenting on the success of the project, executive member for social care, health and housing, councillor Carole Hegley thanked staff and service users for the part they had played:

‘This project has been a successful example of how we can work in partnership with staff, customers and external providers to ensure that we provide high quality and cost effective services.

‘The residents and families were closely involved with the project and have told us that they felt empowered and valued throughout the project.’

Extra Care services remain on the increase within the care sector. carehome.co.uk currently lists 1,545 Extra Care housing sites in the UK, as opposed to 20,755 registered care homes.