Age UK East London has secured a new five-year contract to continue providing the Home and Settle Service for Newham residents, a decision approved at an Officer Key Decision meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026. The charity will receive an estimated £600,000 over the contract period, representing an uplift in funding following a period where Age UK East London indicated they could no longer deliver the service within the existing budget.
The Home and Settle Service, which Age UK East London has delivered since 2014, supports adults aged 18 and over returning home from hospital with low to moderate social care needs. The service offers practical assistance for up to four weeks, helping individuals reintegrate into their homes and routines. This includes ensuring adequate heating, arranging initial grocery shopping, light housekeeping, and minor home adaptations.
However, as part of the contract renewal, there have been adjustments to the service delivery scope. These include a reduction in service delivery days, times, and the number of residents supported. Age UK East London advised of these necessary changes in January 2025 due to budget constraints. The Northeast London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB) provided an uplift in the contract sum to accompany these adjustments.
A key benefit of the service is its success in reducing hospital readmissions, with an average of only 3% of residents being readmitted within 90 days. The service directly contributes to Newham Council's Corporate Plan priority of 'A healthier Newham and Ageing Well'.
The new contract follows a period of transition for the service's funding, moving from the Better Care Fund to the Public Health Grant from April 1, 2026. This shift aligns the service with broader public health objectives.
The direct award of the contract to Age UK East London was recommended due to the provider's satisfactory performance and the absence of significant changes to the service's scope or value. The report also noted limited interest from other providers in previous procurements for similar services.
The decision was made by Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, in consultation with Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment. The decision is subject to a call-in period, meaning it cannot be implemented until the sixth working day following its publication. Further details on the decision can be found in the Agenda frontsheet.