To seek approval to commission, by means of a competitive tender process in line with the council’s contract procedure rules, an accommodation based service for 16-25 year old children in the Council’s care and care leavers.  The accommodation based support service is currently delivered by Caring for Communities and People (CCP) and is due to expire on 31 March 2025. 

That:

a)    the commissioning of an accommodation based support service through an open procurement process be approved, for a period of up to 60 months, commencing from the end of the previous contract on 1 April 2025 up to 31 March 2030 with a maximum total cost of £1,864,765 across 60 months;

b)    authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Children’s and Young People to award a contract for an accommodation based support service, following the completion of a procurement process and;

c)     that delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director, Children’s and Young People to approve any changes to the commissioning process, or subsequent contracts for their duration, including the option to extend, vary and terminate existing contracts. 

1.The service is not re-commissioned. This option is not recommended. This contract supports the council’s commitment to its care leavers as Corporate Parent and there would be a lost opportunity to provide local accommodation and improve outcomes for very vulnerable children in care and care leavers if the service is not recommissioned. Additionally this would mean the Council owned properties would not be utilised as intended by the Council.

2.The contract with the existing provider is extended. This option is not practicable as the contract does not contain an option to extend. This option would also not enable the council to grow the service which will include additional accommodation and move on support which will provide a holistic end to end service. 

3.To deliver as an in-house service.  This is not recommended at this time due to time constraints that would be required to fully develop this option.