Consultation with families will now begin, and the Care Agency will work closely with PossAbilities to develop an implementation plan. Full rollout is anticipated by September 2026, subject to the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding and insurance arrangements between the parties.

A statement from the Government follows below:

In April 2024, the Care Agency issued a tender for the provision of after-school respite services  for children and young people with learning disabilities. The aim, as announced at the time, was to  improve access, formalise care arrangements and secure more suitable facilities than those  currently in use at the Boat House. Despite strong interest, no applicant was deemed suitable,  primarily due to the complex requirement to provide both care and premises under a single  contract. 

Following this outcome, and in full compliance with public procurement rules and with the explicit  consent of the Procurement Office, HMGoG and the Care Agency entered into direct negotiations  with PossAbilities, one of the original applicants to the tender, whose response at the time was  found to be the most closely aligned with the requirements and expectations of the Care Agency.  PossAbilities is a well-established provider of specialist care, with a track record of delivering high  quality support for individuals with complex needs. 

These discussions have now led to the development of a new, expanded service model that will  significantly enhance the delivery of respite care for children and young adults with learning  disabilities. In fact, it will increase the number of children and young adults able to access the  service by 9 from 35 at present to 44 under the new proposal. 

Under the proposed arrangement, most service users will be cared for at dedicated premises  managed by PossAbilities, with the Care Agency retaining strategic oversight and responsibility  for contract management. 

Key improvements include the introduction of a dedicated bus service, directly addressing  concerns raised by families regarding transport during inclement weather, and enhanced  leadership capacity within the service. 

The revised model represents a £600,000 annual saving on current costs and addresses existing  inequalities in access, enabling the Care Agency to meet growing demand more equitably and  sustainably. 

Consultation with families will now begin, and the Care Agency will work closely with PossAbilities  to develop an implementation plan. Rollout is expected to begin in September 2025, subject to  the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding and insurance arrangements between the  parties. 

The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “This is an important  service which families rely on and our children deserve. We have listened to parents, recognised  the limitations of the current model and worked within the proper frameworks to design a more  equitable and sustainable service. This proposal does not only increase the amount of children and young adults that can access the service, important though that is, it also ensures fairness and  delivers care in a setting that is both safe and purpose-built. I am especially pleased that, alongside  these improvements, we are also achieving real value for money. This ensures the sustainability of  the service going forward. We will continue to work closely with families to make sure this  transition is smooth and that the needs of every child remain at the heart of everything we do."