Commissioning and Brokerage Procedures

This procedure should be used by all adult social care practitioners, with the exception of:

1. Practitioners arranging assistive technology or Telecare;
2. Practitioners arranging minor works or low level adaptations;
3. Occupational Therapy practitioners arranging equipment or a major adaptation.

Although this procedure may be helpful to those people with responsibility for commissioning or brokering services, it does not provide specific guidance about arranging, monitoring or reviewing contracts, or any other associated actions that may be required. Anyone carrying out such actions should refer to available local processes.

Before arranging a placement or support you should make sure that the following information is available on Mosaic:

1. Completed Care Act assessment/reassessment or review;
2. Completed draft Care and Support Plan;
3. Mental Capacity Assessment and Best Interest Decision where required
4. Referral to Financial Assessments team completed on Mosaic;
5. Outcomes Forum agreement;
6. Send completed request to purchase/Amend Service to Brokerage Work Folder in Mosaic with a completed care and support plan.

If a person has specific or complex needs you must provide relevant information to Brokerage to assist them in identifying an appropriately skilled provider, this must be included within the individual care and support plan.

If you require support speak with a line manager.

Outcomes Forum guidance is located within the Local Resources.

Merton Brokerage deal with placements for Older People, Transitions, Learning Disability and Older People’s mental Health. This includes:

1. Care home placements (residential or nursing); and
2. Supported living placements;
3. Respite;
4. Substance misuse services;
5. Day opportunities.

For further information refer to the Local Resources.

When arranging Extra Care you should refer to the Extra Care Guidance. This can be found in the Local Resources. 

Extra Care Panel should be agreed prior to arranging any service via brokerage.

For information about Shared Lives see: Shared Lives Scheme | Merton Council.

When arranging Shared Lives you should refer to the Shared Lives Guidance. This can be found in the Local Resources. 

For information about Direct Payments see: Direct payments for social care: Overview | Merton Council.

Further information about Direct Payments, including how to arrange them can be found in the Direct Payments procedure. 

For information about Day Opportunities see: Day centres: Day centres | Merton Council 

Referrals should be made direct to the provision.

Spot purchase options can be requested or may be identified by the practitioners and discussed with the brokerage team to meet an individual's specific identified needs, including culturally specific service.

As part of an individual care package, needs may identify support for care at home.

This could include, but not exclusive to:

1. Deep cleans;
2. Personal care;
3. Sitting in service;
4. Outreach support;

Brokerage will identify the correct provider based on a georgical split, as well as the person’s assessed needs.

Further details for practitioners can be found at Homecare Contract Recommissioning and Mosaic October 2023 (sharepoint.com)