Decision details

Fresh Start is a service for mothers who have had one or more children recently removed by the local authority (including Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs)). The service aims to support women in order to cope with their loss, build resilience, increase well-being and develop new skills for future living.  Fresh Start is now in its 3^rd quarter of the 2^nd year of delivery which ends in April 2020.  The report contains proposals to recommission the Fresh Start Service.

1. To approve a tender to recommission the Fresh Start Service for a further two years with the same level of funding of £88,000 per year; and

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Children and Families, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, to:-

a)    determine the appropriate procurement strategy for the provision for an updated Fresh Start Service;

b)    award the contract for the Fresh Start Service in accordance with the procurement strategy; and

c)    take such steps, where no existing authority exists under the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation, to meet the aims and objectives of the report.

The current contract is due to expire at the end of April 2020.  A procurement exercise is required to continue this valuable service.

Not to recommission the service. This proposal was rejected because this service will reduce inequalities and contribute to the Sheffield Safeguarding Children’s Partnership outcome Priority 5 - to develop robust responses to emerging safeguarding issues whilst at the same time ensuring we maintain an effective response to all areas of abuse and neglect.