Advice on the guiding principles for the procurement of domestic help

Administrative secretariat
PO Box 9033
7300 ES Apeldoorn

T: 06 2831 4935
E: adviesraadsociaaldomein@apeldoorn.nl

Date: 21 August 2024
Our reference: ASDA 2024-06

To: The Municipal Executive of Apeldoorn
CC: Heleen Jutten, Dirk van Bennekom

Subject: Advice on the principles governing the procurement of domestic help

Dear Council,

 

In response to your request for advice dated 10 June regarding the policy principles for the procurement of domestic help by the municipality of Apeldoorn in 2026, we can inform you of the following.

In general, the Advisory Board can recommend these policy principles, but would nevertheless like to draw attention here to the often unequal relationship between the local authority, on the one hand, and the resident in need of care (who is often also vulnerable), on the other. You rightly state in the ‘Domestic Help’ process description (p. 11) that the resident’s need for support is central and that individual health and living circumstances are taken into account. However, perceptions of this situation may vary.

It is recommended that these policy principles also provide for the possibility of a

(Professional) support for the resident during the kitchen-table discussion should be explicitly included. This also has a legal basis; every Dutch citizen is entitled to independent client support.

In addition, we have two further points regarding this memorandum on which we would like to draw your attention:

• Consultation meetings (p. 7): “regular meetings”
  It is recommended that you clearly specify what is meant by “regularly”.
• Ensuring a comprehensive range (p. 7)
  It is recommended that you specify who is responsible for achieving the ”comprehensive provision” and how the client’s (potential) interests are safeguarded.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for the Advisory Board’s timely involvement in this process. We would also like to be involved in the next stages.

Kind regards,

Ewoud Remmelts
Chair of the Apeldoorn Social Services Advisory Board