DORSET Council is advertising a social care housing contract which could be worth in excess of £170million over ten years.

A contract notice is out to provide at least four extra care housing schemes across the county, with a possible further two in years to come.

The council expects the partner to fund, develop, own, and manage the schemes with bids to be submitted within a month, the deadline expiring on November 8th.

Dorset Council says the initial contract will be for ten year with an option to extend for a maximum of 15 years.

The council offer document, being advertised on a Government website, says: "It is anticipated that the strategic partner will fund, develop, own, and manage all of the Extra Care Schemes and that the Contracting Authority (Dorset Council) shall be entitled to nomination rights.

"The Contracting Authority has identified two sites in Bridport and Wareham (owned by the Contracting Authority) as the intended initial schemes.

"Thereafter the Council intends to work with the strategic partner to identify at least two potential further sites in the south and east of the county for future schemes.

The Contracting Authority intends to commission, fund, and provide access to a third party "Care and Support Provider", to facilitate the ongoing care provision within these Extra Care schemes.

"Securing the supply of Extra Care accommodation indirectly through a strategic partner will allow the Contracting Authority to offer a care and support service model more widely and deliver both financial benefits and non-financial benefits such as improved outcomes and wellbeing of tenants."

The notice come as the county's latest extra care facility, a 55-bed unit at St Martin's House, Gillingham is about to open, after a series of delays.

The first residents are expected to move in mid-October with care support being provided by Care Dorset, an arms-length business, wholly owned by Dorset Council. The partnership also involves Dorchester-based Magna Housing.

The one and two-bed apartment scheme offers additional support for people to live independently.

The complex has communal rooms, including a lounge and dining room and shared outdoor spaces including planted gardens and a nature conservation area.

The apartments at St Martin's House are being offered to people in Dorset who need some extra care and support to live independently in their own home. Most of the apartments will be offered to people aged over 55, while a small number will be available to people aged under 55 who need access to care and support.

Each apartment has its own kitchen, fitted bathroom, bedroom and living room with each having a wall-mounted tablet device and an emergency call system.