FAQs

The current contract with Independent Lives expires in February 2026. Under procurement law, the council must review services and, subject to a formal decision, conduct a competitive procurement exercise. The existing service will continue unchanged until the contract ends in February 2026.

We are planning for future commissioning now to ensure that people who receive Direct Payments continue to be supported and that any future service changes are well managed. Our aim is to give stakeholders as much opportunity as possible to shape future service delivery.

We are committed to enabling people to participate in the surveys as part of our engagement activities. This aligns with the aims and objectives of our Adult Social Care Strategy and Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy to consult with and involve those who use our services.

We have started work on this recommissioning early to give stakeholders, including our customers, as much opportunity as possible to shape future service delivery. Your feedback from the survey will be used to create events in the early autumn, ensuring the voices of customers, carers, and others involved with Direct Payments Support are included in developing options for a better service.

We value your opinion as an expert by experience. These surveys are part of our efforts to incorporate people’s views and opinions into our decision-making. We also aim to work transparently and provide feedback to contributors on how their input has been used if they wish to be kept informed.

We will be consulting with Personal Assistants at a later stage as part of a related but separate project. Feedback or views are always welcome via our team’s inbox at LLScommissioning@westsussex.gov.uk.

The current contract with Independent Lives runs until February 2026. The council intends to make decisions well in advance to ensure a smooth transition from the old to the new contract, depending on the outcome of the procurement process. Time has been allocated to work with both the incumbent and any new provider(s) to manage this transition effectively.

Your feedback from the survey will be used to create events in early autumn, ensuring that the voices of customers, carers, and others involved with Direct Payments Support are included in developing options for a better future service.

No, this work won’t affect direct payments or other support people receive that isn’t paid with by a Direct Payment. It is focused on the services we commission to support people who choose to have a direct payment.

Your responses will be used to create events in early autumn, ensuring the voices of customers, carers, and others involved with Direct Payments Support are included in developing options for a better future service.

We also aim to work transparently and provide feedback to contributors on how their input has been used, if they wish to be kept informed.

We are planning for future commissioning now to ensure that people who receive Direct Payments are supported and that any future service changes are well managed. We will inform people in good time about any changes. If you would like to receive updates on the progress of this work, you can sign up for them when completing the survey.

If someone needs help to participate online, they can contact one of these organisations:

• Alzheimer’s Society: via their usual contact or 0333 150 3456
• Carers Support West Sussex: carerengagement@carerssupport.org.uk or their usual contact if they don't have access to email
• Independent Lives: via their usual contact or 01903 219482 (option 3) or advice@independentlives.org 

Alternatively, they can ask at their local library for the following support:

• Staff can help them log onto one of the public computers and find the survey to complete it. They will need to bring the weblink details so staff can help locate the correct website.
• If they need more support, digital volunteers are available at some libraries to assist with completing the form. Digital volunteer sessions must be pre-booked and are available at certain libraries and times. To enquire about booking a volunteer session, call our Library Digital Support line at 0330 222 3455. They may need to leave a message for a callback.

We are committed to enabling people to participate in the surveys as part of our engagement activities. If someone has any queries, please direct them to our team inbox at: LLScommissioning@westsussex.gov.uk

Please complete the survey first. If you still have additional feedback or views to share, you are welcome to contact our team’s inbox at LLScommissioning@westsussex.gov.uk