This case study details how Falkirk Council has addressed climate change and other sustainable procurement factors in new frameworks for Care requirements. Importantly, the case study outlines that the Council has tailored its approach to different working environments. For example, the Care Home framework includes the use of utilities, generation of waste and some travel, while the Care at Home framework includes significant use of transport for service delivery at residents’ homes. The Council has paid particular attention to engaging suppliers of all sizes to encourage them to address Greenhouse Gas emissions in their operations:
Framework duration: 2 years with the option to extend up to a further 24 months, from 1st April 2024.
Contract value: Up to £164 million, if extension options are taken up.
Route to market: Open Procedure.
Lot 1 – Care at Home: Care provided by a professional social care worker in a person's own home in line with reablement practices.
Lot 2 - Care provided by a professional social care worker; can be offered in a comfortable, homely setting or directly in the community, allowing the person to live as independently as possible and to achieve and maintain or increase their potential in relation to physical, intellectual, emotional, and social capacity.
The Framework consists of Providers with a base within the Council area as well as Providers outside the local area.
Framework duration: 4 years with the option to extend by 36 months, from 1st April 2024.
Contract value: Up to £140 million, if extension options are taken up.
Route to market: Open Procedure.
This provides Adult Care Homes for supported people with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disabilities, Drugs and Alcohol related Brain Injury and complex and challenging behaviour.
The Framework consists of local Care Homes and Care homes outside the Council area.
This case study sets out how the Council applied a practical approach to collaboration with suppliers regarding the development and application of relevant carbon reduction measures, within the tender process and contract and supplier management.
As well as establishing and reviewing lessons by the Council’s Corporate Procurement team, the intended audience for this case study comprises:
Framework providers covering the Falkirk Council area vary from small local providers based out of a single office, to large organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Care services are regulated and inspected by the Care Inspectorate which supports improvements in Scotland. All services inspected are awarded on a six-point scale, ranging from unsatisfactory (1) to excellent (6). Suppliers to the frameworks were selected based on minimum required Care Inspectorate ratings.
At the same time, Falkirk Council sought to obtain information and seek commitment from the large number of expected bidders through the tender process, to identify opportunities for meaningful progress along the carbon reduction journey.
The aim was to:
As well as a focus on human rights i.e. human trafficking / modern slavery, Fair Work practices, including mandating payment of at least the real Living Wage, and including community benefits, the Council is keen to work collaboratively with providers to practically support and enable delivery of net zero objectives. The Council had identified climate as particularly relevant to these two frameworks, but needed to ensure requirements were proportionate and therefore allowed providers to develop their understanding and approach to address Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
The Council aims to work collaboratively with providers on the two Frameworks to share knowledge and experience of implementing plans to reduce carbon footprint and waste minimisation with other organisations. It is anticipated that learnings may also be rolled out to Care Homes outside the Council area, for example through Health and Social Care Partnerships.
This includes meeting with Care at Home Providers to discuss human trafficking, Fair Work, Community Benefits, and Carbon Reduction.
Proposals include setting up a Carbon Reduction Working Group, chaired by a member of the Council’s Energy & Climate Change Team (ECCT). Establishing initial membership is up for discussion and the Council may leave it to providers to come forward themselves as they don’t want to put anyone off. While the Council would like high spend providers and those with experience of taking action to participate, it also offers an opportunity for those without experience to learn what to do.
The ECCT will be able to provide training on identifying sources and calculating scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions. They will also support providers to develop their own carbon reduction plans including setting a baseline with targets and, in addition, local providers will have the additional support of the Falkirk Council Low Carbon Advisory Service. This approach will be replicated for Care Homes for Adults later in 2024 with local care homes, as a minimum, participating in a Carbon Reduction Working Group.
This reflected the Council’s desire to work with providers, to support carbon reduction, recognising that much of the market needed help to implement this.
