Decision details

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires that Children and Young People aged 10 – 16 years (inclusive) and Vulnerable Adults aged 17 years and over, must have an ‘Appropriate Adult’ with them (unless exceptional circumstances apply) when they are interviewed by Police Officers about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence.

This report seeks approval from the Executive Director for Children, Young People and Families to approve a county wide tender for the provision of an Appropriate Adult Service Contract for Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster Youth Justice Services.  This Contract will be managed and lead by Sheffield Youth Justice Service.

That the Executive Director People authorises the Director of Commissioning, Inclusion and Learning, in consultation with the Director of Young People and Families, the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, the Director of Legal and Governance, as appropriate, to:

a)         Determine and approve a procurement strategy for the procurement of a county wide Appropriate Adult Service Contract as outlined in this Report;

b)         Award the Contract to the Provider who has submitted the best value for money tender based on our specification and quality requirements for young people;

c)         Take any commercial actions necessary to ensure the continuation of service delivery arrangements with the existing supplier under the terms and conditions applied in their contract, until such date that contracts procured for successor service delivery arrangements commence.

To support the development of a consistent service delivery and key services across the county that supports the statutory requirements of the youth justice teams.  By the three service areas joining together in a single contract and in addition to ensuring best value for money and cost effectiveness, we will be better able to achieve a consistent and higher standard of service throughout the county which is consistent with each district’s delivery plan as well as the South  Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan.  There is a statutory requirement set out within the national standards for the delivery of youth justice services which are subject to an inspection and audit regime for the provision of appropriate adult service and these are set out within the contract.

·         The provision of this Service is a legislative requirement, and due consideration has been given to alternative methods of delivery including bringing the Service in-house or running a Sheffield only tender.

·         It was determined that the most cost effective option would be a collective collaboratively procured approach on the open market, through an open tender, as this would maximise the interest and competition and thereby return the most economically advantageous tender.