A new system where Swindon Borough Council buys services for carers in the borough is being set up after the abandonment of the previous process, councillors learned.

Members of the council’s adults’ and children’s services overview & scrutiny committee were told they are able to influence the new system for procuring support services for carers.

It follows difficulties earlier this year when Swindon Carers’ Centre, which was contracted by the council for the previous several years, announced it would have to shut after failing to agree terms with the council for the renewal of the contract.

That was rescinded when both parties were able to come to an agreement to carry on until December next year.

The council’s cabinet member for adults, Cllr Ray Ballman and the director of commissioning for adult social care, Grace Lynch outlined for the committee how a new system to buy in the services for carers was being set up.

She said: “We asked carers what changes they would like to see in a new or improved service for people who care for others, the top five responses were: support and advice on finance, money and benefits, greater knowledge of what support is available, respite and carers’ breaks, easier access to information and help and access to services and support outside of working hours.”

Cllr Ballman and Ms Lynch said the committee could get involved in setting the principles of operation for the new system, such as: “The specification is informed by the experience and insights of carers, a carer should be involved in the evaluation process, that quality is weighted higher than price in the evaluation and that there are clear performance measures, informed by the views of carers.”

Ms lynch told the councillors that price counted for 10 per cent of the evaluation of a bid by a service provider, with another nine quality factors, such as how does the service contribute to the council’s missions, making up the full assessment.

She told the committee that there had been areas of procurement where price had been a more important factor, but in buying carers' support, quality had always been more important.,

Cllr Barabra Parry asked that young carers be included in the assessment of the services, which was agreed by Ms Lynch.

The committee added a requirement that ease of access to information and services be added to the principles.

The budget for the 2025 contract is £644,000 of which £166,000 is funded by Children’s Services and £478,000 from the pooled adults social care and health budget.