ECL awarded six-year contract to deliver care in West Sussex
We are delighted to announce that ECL has been awarded a significant new contract by West Sussex County Council.
ECL’s Reablement Service has won a tender to provide at home short-term care to the people of West Sussex following a spell of ill health, surgery or an accident.
The new six-year contract which begins on 1 April 2025, is significantly bigger than ECL’s previous agreement with the Council. This forms part of West Sussex County Council’s “Why Not Reablement” programme.
The CQC registered service will run seven days a week from 7am to 11pm. Working closely with local hospitals to get people home safely and provide reablement support to help them to regain their independence.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue to provide reablement services to the people of West Sussex. While we have been successfully delivering reablement care in the region since 2012, this new contract is bigger than before, which is really exciting. We will be delivering 2000 hours of reablement care per week in year one, increasing to 5000 hours per week over the course of the six-year period. Our joint ambition is that the adults we support can live independently again with ECL’s support.
ECL has successfully been providing the Community Reablement Service in West Sussex since 2012. During this time the demand for this care has exponentially increased.
Cllr Amanda Jupp, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults Services, said: “I am very pleased that the council has taken such important steps to secure and extend reablement care support for West Sussex residents. Retaining independence to enable people to live the life they want to lead is core to our adults’ social care strategy.
“There’s a common misconception that reablement is only for people who have been recently discharged from hospital and is part of the reason why the service has updated its criteria to emphasise that reablement is an inclusive service and isn’t diagnosis-dependent. In addition, the referral process has also been streamlined to speed up people’s receipt of reablement care.
“Reablement also supports Our Council Plan’s goal of keeping people safe from vulnerable situations, by building on a person's strengths.”
The ECL reablement team consists of experienced Trusted Assessors and Community Care Assistants, supported by office and management staff. The team work alongside Occupational Therapists in the West Sussex County Council Regaining Independence Service.
The team works with the individual and their family to create a care plan that sets personal independence goals to work towards during the time they are receiving care at home. Collaborating with families, other healthcare professionals and community services to ensure that each individual achieves their desired outcomes.
Care packages can last for up to six weeks, but most people regain the ability to look after themselves in two to three weeks. The team continually review and assess the support people need to help them to get better. If they still need some support at the end of their package, ECL will work with the local authority to source on-going care.
The Community Reablement Service is recruiting, please visit ecl.org/careers to find out more.
Find out more information about West Sussex County Council reablement care services visit the West Sussex Connect to Support website.
Referrals to Adult Social Care can be made by contacting West Sussex County Council, phone 01243 642121 to speak to Adults’ CarePoint or email socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk.
For online enquiries visit the Contact us for adult social care support page on the council’s website.