We work with our referrers to provide spot purchase placements to help individuals with complex needs move out of hospitals and into a home of their own.
What is a Spot Purchase Placement?
Most people we support are referred to us by either their local Integrated Health Board (ICB) or Local Authority (LA) through a preferred provider framework and tender process. On occasions, when an individual requires a bespoke service that sits outside of the provider framework, referrers can instead make a spot purchase placement.
Before talking about spot purchase placements, it is first important to understand how they sit within the referral process, and how they are used in conjunction with preferred provider frameworks.
What is a preferred provider framework?
A preferred provider framework is a local agreement between the NHS or Local Authority and one or more providers that sets out terms for the provision of services to the NHS. Many provider frameworks are between the NHS or Local Authority and independent providers of healthcare services.
To be accepted onto a provider framework, providers must be able to evidence that they meet certain requirements, and the NHS or Local Authority must demonstrate that they have followed due diligence before accepting a provider onto their approved list.
Being accepted onto a provider framework is no guarantee that a provider will receive referrals. But to be able to provide services in a specific geographical area, providers must be on the list of approved providers.
Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards
Each Local Authority or Integrated Care Board will have a number of preferred provider framework agreements in place for the services they commission. Each framework agreement covers an identified local health need and can relate to a particular demographic, for example, supported living for adults with learning disabilities.
Each preferred provider framework can remain in place for up to four years, after which the provider must go through the process again to show that they still meet the requirements needed. This ensures that the quality of preferred provider frameworks are upheld.
What is a tender or call off?
Whilst a preferred provider framework is the overarching agreement to provide services locally, a tender or call off is personalised to the individuals in need of the service.
When a Local Authority or Integrated Care Board has a referral to make, preferred providers are invited to ‘bid’ to provide the service for the individual. As part of this process, the provider must evidence exactly how they will meet that individual’s exact needs.
The referrer will then decide which provider is best placed to provide the service and will make the referral.
When is a spot purchase placement made?
A spot purchase agreement is an unplanned, one-off purchase and occurs when an individual’s needs cannot be met within the scope of the existing provider framework agreement. In most instances, this is because an individual has complex needs and requires tailored support.
Other reasons when a referrer might seek a spot purchase placement:
- there may be an urgent need to move an individual from their current care setting
- there may be a request from family or carers to provide support closer to home and no other local options are available
- an individual is not suited to living in shared accommodation
Spot purchase placements are generally placed with providers who are already on the approved provider list.
Who is a spot purchase placement for?
A spot purchase placement is made for individuals with complex needs who require a bespoke service.
The term, complex needs is not a diagnosis, but it is an umbrella term often used to describe a person who experiences multiple challenges in their life that affect their physical, mental, emotional or social wellbeing.
Spot purchase agreement considerations
An individual might be considered for a spot purchase placement if:
- they require a level of support greater than 1:1 support 24 hours per day
- they have a long-standing history of failed community placements or readmissions to hospitals
- they have a forensic history or are subject to restrictions
- they are under a Court of Protection, Deprivation of Liberty or Community Treatment Order that requires specialist support
- they have experienced trauma or adversity
- they have developed coping mechanisms of self harm or suicide ideation
- they have ongoing clinical needs following discharge from hospital or other setting.
Each potential spot purchase placement is evaluated on a case by case basis, using the above criteria as a guide. Assessing if an individual would benefit from a spot purchase placement over other preferred frameworks can be complex, and the result of which should be based on what will provide the best level of care for the individual.
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Find out more about our spot purchase placements
Everything about our packages of support is tailored to the individual. This extends to recruitment, staff training and sourcing of property. If you are looking to make a spot purchase placement, get in touch with our team today to find out more about how you can refer someone, and talk about the kind of support they would benefit the most from.