Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To agree to the commencement of procurement of
a neutral agency vendor to provide temporary workers, a special
specialist provider to provide permanent recruitment and a
specialist provider of both temporary and permanent social care to
directly follow on from the termination of the current neutral
agency vendor contract, which terminates on 31 March 2025. The new
contract will be effective from 1 April 2025.
RESOLVED that the Executive approve the re-procurement of a neutral vendor contract to provide the Council with agency staff in accordance with the strategic procurement plan attached as Appendix A to the report.
The Council spends in excess of £7M a year on agency staff, of which on-contract
spend through Matrix currently accounts for between 65 and 70% of the total spend.
Whilst generally successful, the contract with Matrix (and any neutral vendor) will
have gaps in their ability to provide all the Council’s agency worker needs due to the
specialist nature of some roles.
It is recommended that procurement is split into three Lots to address the current
issues with recruiting specialist social care and education roles under a neutral
agency vendor arrangement. It is intended that this approach will reduce the overall
costs to the council through more on-contract spending and higher levels of fulfilment
thus improving compliance and governance around agency worker recruitment.
1. Procure software but manage the service internally. This is a significant change, though it has been done elsewhere.
2. Collaboration with neighbouring authorities to create greater economies of scale, but this would require neighbouring authorities to be undertaking procurement at the same time as Bracknell.
3. Re-procurement of a single neutral agency vendor for all agency worker recruitment, which is our current arrangement.
None
Reason Key: Expenditure >£400,000 & Affects more than 1 ward.;
Financial Impact: Within existing budget
Declarations: None
Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No
Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director: Resources
Other reasons / organisations consulted
Meeting with interested parties - CMT Meeting
15/11/23
Consultees
Bracknell Forest Council recruiting managers
have been sent a questionnaire to attain information from them on
the strengths of the current provider, requirements from agency
providers and areas for improvement. Finance has been requested to
communicate their requirements and Unions have been advised of the
procurement commencing and will be engaged throughout the
process.
CMT for agreement to take to Executive.
Contact: Paul Young, Assistant Director: HR, OD and Payroll Email: paul.young@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 354060.
Report author: Paul Young
Publication date: 12/12/2023
Date of decision: 12/12/2023
Decided at meeting: 12/12/2023 - Executive
Effective from: 21/12/2023
Accompanying Documents: