Decision details

Proposed decision:

a)    DIRECTLY AWARD a new contract, under the same terms and conditions to Clearsprings Ready Homes from 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 (potentially one year to cover 18+ placements from 1 October 2023 for smoother mobilisation) for Shared Accommodation services.

b)    DIRECTLY AWARD a new contract under the same terms and conditions to Look Ahead Care and Support, Sanctuary Supported Living and YMCA Thames Gateway from 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 (potentially one year to cover 18+ placements from 1 October 2023 for smoother transition) for the Young Person’s Supported Accommodation and Floating Support (YPSAFS) services.

c)    AGREE to procure new Supported Accommodation Services effective 1 October 2023 for a minimum of four years with potential further extensions of up to four years.

Background:

The Young Person’s Supported Accommodation and Floating Support (YPSAFS) and Shared Accommodation contracts were due to expire on 30 September 2022 and 31 October 2022, respectively. Following an agreement of a Direct Award, the contracts now end on 31 March 2023. These contracts require recommissioning to accommodate KCC children and young people from the age of 16 to meet KCC’s Sufficiency Strategy 2022-2027 requirements.

In December 2021, Ofsted announced that all accommodation for 16/17-year-old children would need to be regulated in a previously unregulated market which has significantly impacted the proposed direction of travel. The announcement derailed a years-worth of commissioning activity. As of July 2022, Ofsted have yet to publish the final details on the new regulation.  It is anticipated that the requirements will not be published by Ofsted until late December 2022.

It remains unclear when new entrants must be in regulated services, assumed 1 April 2023. However, it was initially indicated that from 1 April 2022, providers delivering services not previously subject to regulation must take steps to become regulated providers by Ofsted. There has since been further communication where Ofsted will begin registering providers from April 2023 ahead of the new national standards becoming mandatory for all providers from 1 October 2023, at which point all providers will need to be registered with the first full inspections expected to begin from April 2024.

Despite the uncertainty of the new regulations, Strategic Commissioning have developed a revised structured Pathway to Independence progressing through services until the young person is ready to move on.  This includes a new Community Outreach Support Service, that we anticipate will ensure compliance with the new regulations. The contracts will provide accommodation and support to all statutory cohorts and children who are at risk of becoming homeless (16/17-year-olds).

Changes in regulation provides additional complexity in recommissioning services that have previously not been subject to regulation. In the absence of clear guidance from Ofsted, developing the specification within the timescales and the potential of mobilising a new provider could be challenging and has many associated risks.

KCC has a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of Kent Children in Care and ensure best value for money it spends on behalf of the Kent population.  It also has a statutory responsibility to ensure there is sufficient safe accommodation for Children in Care.

Risks:

Options considered:

The risks (highlighted above) have informed the commissioning options available with the greatest being that, without the detailed guidance, we have no certainty on what we are buying.  The preferred option that would allow services to continue, to the point of known regulation requirements, would be Option 3, to directly award six-month contracts under the same terms and conditions to the incumbent providers. This would allow sufficient time to specify requirements, run a compliant procurement exercise, and ensure continuity of service for our children and young people.  

·      Option 1: Run a tender process for the new services to commence in April 2023 for all new placements. Either directly award a contract or move to spot purchased arrangements for up to one year to the incumbent providers for existing placements. This will provide a managed mobilisation period for the successful providers to become registered. Existing placements would then transition over once they are registered – If the communication from Ofsted that states providers must be registered by Autumn 2023 stands, then technically there could be a number of unlawful placements from Autumn 2023 to April 2024 if the successful providers of the new services fail in their registration, leading to another procurement exercise to be carried out and any unlawful placements having to move to a higher cost registered spot purchased service.

·      Option 2: Directly Award one-year contracts from 1 April 2023 to the incumbent providers and run a tender process for the new Supported Accommodation Service to commence from 1 October 2023. Ofsted are currently indicating that guidance will be issued by December 2022. KCC will be clearer on what it is looking to buy, and Providers will be clearer on their requirements. Providers will be able to understand what being Registered and Regulated will mean and submit better informed costed bids. KCC would prioritise transferring the existing 16/17-year-olds into the new contracted arrangements from 1 October 2023, with an understanding that there is a manageable plan for these young people by the time Providers are inspected in April 2024. The 18+ young people will be able to remain in contracted provision and either moved onto spot contracts or transitioned into the new services/better suited services for their needs post 18.

·      Option 3: Directly Award six-month contracts from 1 April 2023 to the incumbent providers and run a tender process for the new Supported Accommodation Service to commence from 1 October 2023. This is the same for option 2 other than a potential to move all young people, either physically or onto spot contracts, depending on who is successful at tender. 

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

To directly award a new contract, under the same terms and conditions to Clearsprings Ready Homes from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 for Shared Accommodation services.

To directly award a new contract under the same terms and conditions to Look Ahead Care and Support, Sanctuary and YMCA Thames Gateway from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 for the Young Person’s Supported Accommodation and Floating Support (YPSAFS) services, on a reducing scale.

To procure new Supported Accommodation Services effective 1 October 2023 for a minimum of four years with potential further extensions of up to four years.