Issue details

Proposed decision

Approve the Commissioning of two interdependent contracts which together form the council's integrated domestic abuse programme:

• Kent Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Service (3-year 6-month contract, inclusive of a mobilisation period, with three optional 24-month extensions)
• Sanctuary Access For Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme (4-year 4-month contract, inclusive of a mobilisation period, with three optional 24-month extensions)

Reason for the decision

The proposal is to Commission necessary integrated domestic abuse support services to ensure continuity of provision beyond the expiry of existing contracts.

Domestic abuse is a cross-cutting issue. KCC has statutory duties under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse (DA) Act 2021 to assess need, publish a strategy, and commission support for victims and their children residing in safe accommodation. The Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant supports delivery of these duties.

Key services to support survivors of domestic abuse are the Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) and Safe Accommodation Support Service (SASS). Both contracts have been extended under Key Decision 26/00039 and are due to end 31 January 2028. These contracts form key delivery mechanisms of the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy and associated Domestic Abuse Framework, and are primarily funded through external grant funding, including the Domestic Abuse Act Grant and wider partnership contributions.

In addition, the contract for the council’s Sanctuary Access for Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme, which provides targeted security measures to enable victims to remain safely in their own homes is due to expire on 30 November 2027. SAFER forms a key component of the wider system, supporting prevention, early intervention, and demand management across accommodation-based services.

Commissioners have undertaken a comprehensive redesign of Kent's domestic abuse support system. The new proposed programme brings together services previously delivered through separate contracts into a more integrated and coordinated model.

The proposed programme delivers a single coordinated domestic abuse system across Kent, and comprises two connected components:

1.    Kent Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Service (KIFDAS)  – providing referral, triage, training, education, awareness, safe accommodation support, and community-based domestic abuse support.

2.    Sanctuary Access For Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme – providing specialist security measures and Cyber Sanctuary support to enable victims to remain safely in their own homes.

Award and mobilisation for both contracts would commence from summer 2027. Whilst procured through separate contracts, these services will operate as a single domestic abuse support system, sharing pathways, referral routes, and strategic outcomes.

Background

Commissioners commenced planning and undertaking recommissioning activity in 2024 to ensure continuity of service provision beyond the expiry of the current contracts. As part of this activity, Commissioners have undertaken a comprehensive programme of activity which has underpinned the development of services.

The current commissioned service arrangements were approved under prior Key Decisions – details are available here.

·   Decision - 16/00014 - Commissioning of Integrated Domestic Abuse Support Services - Kent County Council - Council & Democracy

·   Decision - 23/00007 - Domestic Abuse - Commission a new Safe Accommodation Support Service - Kent County Council - Council & Democracy

·   Decision - 23/00074 - Contract Award of the Property Security element of the countywide Sanctuary Access for Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme - Kent County Council - Council & Democracy

The current service provision under existing contracts has been Good. The end of the contracts presented an opportunity to develop a more integrated, cohesive, and holistic service to meet the needs of victims and families, building on the positive already delivered to date under the existing contracts.

Options - Other options considered but discarded

A range of options were considered, but discarded as part of the development of the future domestic abuse model, assessing how best to deliver services in line with statutory duties, available funding, and identified need:

·   Option 1: Do nothing / decommission services - Allow the current KIDAS, SASS and SAFER contracts to expire with no replacement model and begin decommissioning of services. Dismissed due loss of statutory provision and risk of safeguarding and service gaps.

·   Option 3: Develop and commission an expanded integrated service – Including wider community support (including for children) and broader provision beyond current scope. Positive option but not affordable.

·   Option 4: Recommission Existing Model (KIDAS / SASS / SAFER as is) - Reprocure or extend services on a like-for-like basis, retaining the current KIDAS structure, separate SASS and SAFER contracts, existing service boundaries, and delivery approaches. This option was considered as it would provide continuity and minimise service disruption. However, it was discounted as it would not address the key issues identified through needs assessment, performance review, and stakeholder engagement.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

Reforming Kent sets out the Council’s ambition to deliver more integrated, preventative, and outcomes-focused services.

Together, the Kent Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Service (KIFDAS) and the Sanctuary Access for Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme form a coordinated domestic abuse programme that strengthens prevention, early intervention, and support for victims and their children across Kent. The programme will deliver a more integrated and whole-system approach to domestic abuse by bringing together safe accommodation support, community-based support, workforce development, training, education, awareness raising, and targeted security interventions through a connected service model.

By reducing fragmentation, improving access to support, and strengthening the coordination of services, the programme will improve outcomes for residents, help people remain safe and independent within their communities where appropriate, and reduce demand on wider public services. The proposed approach aligns with the council's commitment to delivering joined-up, preventative services that achieve better outcomes and make best use of available resources.

Financial Implications

The maximum contractual value associated with this decision is £48,366,929.91 over the full potential contract terms, including all extension periods.

This decision comprises two interdependent contracts which together deliver Kent's integrated domestic abuse programme:

1.      Kent Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Service (KIFDAS) Contract term: 3-year 6-month contract, inclusive of a mobilisation period, plus 3 x 24-month extension periods (9-year 6-month total maximum term) Extension subject to performance review and funding availability.

2.      Sanctuary Access For Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme Contract term: 4-year 4-month contract, inclusive of a mobilisation period, plus 3 x 24-month extension periods (10-year 4-month total maximum term). Extension subject to performance review and funding availability.

The decision will be funded by KCC through a combination of the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant (£4.3m pa) and Public Health Grant (£590,000pa) The rest will be met by partnership funding contributions, which will be flexed depending on further engagement as part of the commissioning and procurement processes. Implementing this decision will not create any additional pressure on the council's base budget.