To approve the procurement and launch of a new local framework for the arranging and purchase of support and accommodation for care leavers and some looked after children who are 16+ years old.  The services purchased via the framework will support young people to secure accommodation and develop their skills and resilience and provide opportunities for training and employment, engagement with relevant services and participation in their communities, to enable them to move towards independent living.

There are currently limited options for accommodating care leavers and 16 and 17 year old looked after children in Herefordshire.  There is a reliance on “out of county” specialist placements, spot purchased at significant cost, and of varying quality.  There are also gaps in support for young people at risk of homelessness.  Young people require safe and affordable accommodation, aligned to support towards increased independence, underpinned by realistic opportunities for learning and work.

It is proposed this procurement process will commence in January 2021, with procurement evaluation, confirmation of contract, placement arrangements and administrative processes taking place over February and March 2021.  There will be a soft launch of the framework on 1 April 2021.  A review will take place in June with the aim of a fully operational framework by 1 July 2021.

The new framework will complement newly commissioned accommodation and support services for care leavers and vulnerable young people and support the vision and principles of the looked after children and complex needs placement sufficiency strategy 2019-2024.  The placements will be led by the needs of the young people to achieve positive outcomes.  The local framework will support the strategy to address the sufficiency, quality and sustainability of appropriate placement provision as well as value for money in Herefordshire.

That

(a)   a local framework be established for arranging and purchasing support and accommodation for care leavers and 16 plus care experienced children; and

(b)  confirmation of the detailed terms and operating arrangements for the framework to be approved by the director for children and families, in consultation with the cabinet member for children and families.

1.          Not to establish a procurement framework for accommodation and support for care leavers and looked after children over 16 years of age.  This option is not recommended as the council would not then have an opportunity to exert any control over the price and quality of accommodation or support placements for care leavers or looked after children (LAC) over 16 years of age.  It would limit opportunities to promote and develop a more effective local accommodation and support market and would continue reliance on the regional framework which has not been effective for Herefordshire.

2.          To establish a framework only for support of young people and rely on the council sourcing accommodation separately.  This option is not recommended as although this approach would be preferred in the medium term, there is not sufficient availability of accommodation presently to enable a support only framework to be viable.