To approve a new offer of short breaks for disabled children for 2017-2020.

THAT:

(a)        work proceeds to implement an allowance-based scheme for tier 2 targeted short breaks (appendices 3 and 4);

(b)        the organisations detailed in the tables at paragraph 11 are contracted as approved providers of targeted and specialist short breaks for disabled children; and

(c)        a contract, valued at £35k per year is awarded  for up to five years from 1 April 2017 to Marches Family network to deliver a market support and development service for Herefordshire’s short breaks offer.

There has been clear support, through consultation and engagement activity, for the implementation of an allowance-based scheme for targeted short breaks. Appendices 3 and 4 describe how the scheme will work.

The council has completed a procurement exercise for:

·       short breaks direct purchasing system

·       short breaks market support and development service

Appendices 1 and 2 describe the procurement process and outcomes in detail. Each tender received has been evaluated by the council. A group of ‘family envoys’ have also provided their feedback, which builds on wider work done to consult and engage with disabled children and their families in the design of a new short breaks offer.

Confirmation of the intention to award contracts will also enable the council to continue to meet its statutory duties.

Decide to not award contracts to providers that have met the council’s commissioning objectives and procurement evaluation criteria. This option would lead to the spot purchasing of support packages for individual children outside of any contractual framework. It would cause difficulties in planning services for individual and cohorts of children, as well as risk reputational damage for the council among families and service providers. This option is not recommended.