CP2296-22 Social Care Advocacy for Adults and Children's Services

Due to the ongoing uncertainty of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) implementation date and guidance has still to be finalised nationally, Devon County Council, Devon Integrated Care Board (formerly the CCG) and Torbay Council/Torbay & South Devon NHS Trust (the Commissioners) are extending the current contract for Advocacy Services for Adult and Children’s social care for an additional year with the current provider. This will be effective from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 to enable planning and management of the Liberty Protection Safeguards programme. This is due to reasons outside of the Commissioners’ control and therefore difficult to future-proof a contract with such uncertainties. Planning and management of the Liberty Protection Safeguards programme is expected to take place during the 2023-24 financial year but as there is currently no agreed implementation date the Authority will undertake market engagement activities with interested providers within the upcoming months once clear national guidance has been published.