Decision details

Project Apollo - Supporting NEET Care Leavers (Contract Award)

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

Sheffield City Council has been awarded a Social Impact Bond to the value of up to £1.3 million following a successful bid to the Children’s Innovation Fund administered by Spring Consortium.

 

Acceptance of this funding will allow Sheffield to address this imbalance for care leavers not in education, employment or training (NEET) and, provide this opportunity for this cohort to engage in a tailored programme of support that will be embedded in the care leavers’ service. The programme will work in partnership with young people empowering them to fulfil their potential and take control of their future working to achieve agreed outcomes. We will offer the cohort opportunities to take part in interventions that will provide them with the skills and the resilience to be ready to tackle their journey into education, employment or training.

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services submitted a report seeking approval to accept and spend up to £1,083,550 of funding from the Children’s Social Innovation Programme launched by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2014, which will provide a programme of support targeting Care Leavers Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). 

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

 

 

 

(a)

approves acceptance of the DfE’s grant offer of up to £1,083,550, to deliver the service initiative detailed in the report;

 

 

 

 

(b)

approves the direct award of a contract to a company (a special purpose vehicle (SPV)) established by Sheffield Futures with a potential value of £1,083,550 in outcomes payments in order to deliver the project;

 

 

 

 

(c)

delegates authority, to the extent not already delegated by the Leader’s Scheme of Delegation, to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Executive Director, People Services to agree the terms of the contract; and

 

 

 

 

(d)

delegates authority, to the extent not already delegated by the Leader’s Scheme of Delegations, to the Executive Director, People Services, to take such other steps deemed necessary to deliver the outcomes set out in this report.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

The Council has been successful in its bid for Innovation Funding and without this opportunity would not have the budget to deliver the proposed programme.

 

 

8.3.2

Acceptance and expenditure of the funding for the purposes set out in this report will achieve the following outcomes:

 

              Non- Financial Outcomes

 

Achieving improved educational outcomes and stability in employment will enable care leavers to participate in and make a contribution to society, improve their financial outlook and enhance their health and wellbeing prospects.  In order to measure success we are baselining the cohort and will monitor impact throughout the life cycle and on completion as follows:-

 

·           Increasing suitable & sustainable accommodation (Measure: tenancy breakdowns, numbers in adequate/acceptable accommodation, numbers presenting as homeless);

·           Improving access to training, education & employment (Measures: EET - qualifications achieved, progression to further and higher education, entry and sustainment into employment);

·           Increased financial stability (Measure: not in debt; reduction in emergency payments);

·           Improved mental health & well-being (Measure: access to specialist support e.g. substance misuse; reduction in risk-taking behaviour e.g. Child Sexual Exploitation, criminality, sexual health; use of SDQ/Youth Star – improved results);

·           Improved resilience & confidence (Measure: Youth Star – improved results);

·           Raised care leaver aspirations (Measure: self-reporting).

 

              Financial Outcomes

 

              According to the National Audit Office, the lifetime cost of the current cohort of 19-year-old care leavers being NEET would be around £240 million or £150 million more than if they had the same NEET rate as other 19-year-olds. 

 

              In order to measure financial benefits we will review our current and previous cohorts of care leavers to compare their outcomes.  Utilising the New Economy Unit Cost Database we will calculate savings using the following indicators: -

 

·      Job Seeker's Allowance

·      Not in Employment Education or Training (NEET)

·      NVQ Level 2 Qualification

·      City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification

·      BTEC Level 2 Qualification

·      Apprenticeship Level 2 Qualification

·      NVQ Level 3 Qualification

·      City & Guilds Level 3 Qualification

·      BTEC Level 3 Qualification

·      Apprenticeship Level 3 Qualification

·        Graduate Level 4+ Qualification

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

There was an option not to seek funding to engage in the programme. The decision to opt into the programme is based on our assessment that the additional resources provided and the innovative practice involved will deliver improved outcomes over and above what would have been achieved if not engaged in the programme.

 

 

8.4.2

The initial innovation fund call for proposals instigated by DfE was open for any interested party to apply and submit an expression of interest to DfE.  Sheffield Futures did express an interest and developed proposed solutions to the identified needs of the care leavers cohort and in securing investors into the project.  In doing so they have developed a service offer unique to them.  In the circumstances, an alternative procurement route was not considered appropriate or practical.

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, People Services

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Children, Young People and Family Support

 

 

 

Report author: Helen Sweaton

Publication date: 25/05/2018

Date of decision: 23/05/2018

Decided at meeting: 23/05/2018 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 01/06/2018

Accompanying Documents: