Decision details

To seek approval to re-award an interim contractto deliver the Shared Accommodation Service for Children in care and Care Leavers Aged 16-21 from 1 March 2017 to 28February 2018 (16/00079).

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide suitable and safe accommodation that has the right level of support for Children in Care (including UASC) and must also accommodate16 and 17 year old children in need (in accordance with Section 20 of the Children’s Act 1989), a child / young person to whom Bail has been denied and children remanded to local authority accommodation (RLAA) and 16 and 17 year old Care Leavers (Relevant).

The County Council must provide Care Leavers (including former UASC) with support and financial support to assist in promoting their welfare, especially in relation to maintaining suitable accommodation and promoting education and training.

This activity is an element of the Facing the Challenge 0-25 transformation programme (16-25 Accommodation Programme).

Financial Implications: The value of these contracts is £1.8 million; however, spend for 2015/16 was approximately £3.3m. This service is largely funded from the Home Office grant.

Legal Implications: The ‘Spending the Council’s Money’ policy expects procurement to be competitive, and the Council’s default position regarding competition is that competition is required for all purchases.  However, a number of special circumstances exist where this may not be applicable or possible, e.g. the purchasing of adult and children’s services is required by law under the National Assistance Act 1948 and the Children Act 1989. Alternative processes are set out in Directorate Operational Procedures.

Equality Implications: An EQIA assessment for the wider 16-25 Accommodation Programme has been undertaken with supplementary focus on this specific action. The EQIA supports the intention to diversify provision according to individual needs of service users.

The matter is referred to in the Directorate’s Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.

As Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, I agree to:

a) RE-AWARD short-term interim contracts to deliver a Shared Accommodation Service for Children in Care and Care Leavers aged 16-21 from 1 March 2017 to 31 August 2017; and

b) DELEGATE authority to the Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated office, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision.