To approve a three month direct award of a contract for accommodation based support service for young people for the period to 31^st January 2021.  The contract is due to end on 31^st October 2020 and an unavoidable delay has resulted a request for a direct award to extend to 31^st January 2021.  Once approved a waiver will be requested.

It was proposed that procurement would commence for a new housing related support service for young people in June 2020, with mobilisation aligning with the completion of building works and the end of the existing supported accommodation for young people contract on 31^st October 2020, it was planned that the new service would commence on 1 November 2020.

That:

A contract be awarded to Citizen Young People for the accommodation based support service for young people for a period of 3 months to 31st January 2021 with a maximum cost of £40k

1.         The option to not extend the service by three months.  This is not recommended as this will leave Herefordshire with no specialist supported accommodation service for young people for three months.   The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the social and private rented sectors.  The unprecedented circumstances greatly reduced the existing provider’s ability to successfully support move on in a timely and appropriate manner to prevent a negative impact on the young people they are accommodating and supporting.  The pandemic has adversely impacted young people in their ability to access training, education and employment all necessary to underpin successful move on to independent living.

2.         The option to continue with the existing foyer based model has been explored and exhausted and the matter resolved in previous decisions.   This option is not advisable or practicable as the service model no longer meets the changing and diverse needs of Herefordshire’s vulnerable young people.