'Lessons learned' report released by City of Edinburgh Council
Posted on Tuesday 15 June 2010
City of Edinburgh Council's controversial care and support tender for adult services was formally abandoned on 11 March 2010: now this month, the Council has released its report following its 'Lessons Learned' review which highlights its examination of why the tender failed, and what the action plan will be in order to move forward.
The 'Lessons Learned' report, which can be viewed here, and also by clicking on the link on the right hand side of this page, has highlighted that:
- reporting by the Council to elected members could have been improved
- a commissioning strategy should ideally have been in place before the decisions to proceed with the care and support services contracts were taken
- there were shortcomings in the project management and project governance arrangements
- more engagement and consultation, particularly relating to Direct Payment issues, should have taken place by the Council with service users and providers
- weaknesses were identified in the original evaluation process for the submitted tenders.
As a result, City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) has drawn up an action plan to move forward, which includes the following points:
- improved engagement and consultation with service users and providers
- more progress reporting to Council committees
- better project management and governance of the process; and
- a commissioning strategy for care and support services.
Work will continue throughout the summer on further consulation. The Commissioning Strategy for Adult Social Care will be reported to the Council in the autumn. The strategy also aims to take into account the Scottish Government's Social Care Procurement Guidance which is currently out for consultation (please follow the link on the right hand side of this page to view CCPS' response to the Government's Draft Social Care Procurement Guidance Consultation).