Agenda item

9.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children’s Servicesseeking approval to commission an extension to the current Supported Accommodation (young people 16 to 25 years) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) contract for Looked After Children and Care Leavers,for 18 months from 1^st April 2023 to 30^th September 2024. The current term of the contract is 1^st August 2019 to 1^st April 2023 (4 years), and the value of the extension is estimated to be £8.4m.

Arising from a question regarding quality assurance, the Committee was informed of the activities undertaken to ensure high quality support and accommodation was provided for Looked After Children and Care Leavers in the city, which included:-

·       For 16 & 17 year olds, a pathway plan and care plan for care leavers, overseen by a social worker, and continued access to an independent reviewing officer, meaning that individual needs are reviewed regularly.

·       Strong liaison between children’s services and the commissioning team in relation to sharing key intelligence, identifying and acting on any concerns identified; undertaking of regular spot checks of accommodation; and receipt of regular feedback from social workers and the Leaving Care service.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a) approves the commission of an 18-month extension (1 April 2023 – 30 September 2024) of the current Supported Accommodation (young people 16 - 25 years) DPS, with such variation having an estimated value of £8.4m;

(b) requests the Director of Children’s Services to consider, as part of the re-commissioning exercise, how providers who either lease the tenancies or own the buildings can be encouraged to be as environmentally-friendly as they possibly can; and

(c) supports the principle of the introduction of an Ofsted inspection regime for Supported Accommodation.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

Commissioning an extension to the existing arrangements will ensure our statutory duty continues to be met whilst allowing time for a full re-commissioning exercise to be undertaken.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

Not to proceed with an extension to the contract - the alternative option considered is not to proceed with the proposed extension, however, this raises the risk of an appropriately specified and monitored contract not being in place, which would be in breach of the Contract Procedure Rules (2015).

9.4.2

Additionally, the Local Authority will not be compliant in relation to its statutory duties to provide appropriate accommodation to Looked After Children and Care Leavers, therefore, this option is not recommended.

9.4.3

There are no additional implications arising out of the request to extend the current contract.

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children’s Servicesseeking approval to commission an extension to the current Supported Accommodation (young people 16 to 25 years) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) contract for Looked After Children and Care Leavers, for 18 months from 1^st April 2023 to 30^th September 2024. The current term of the contract is 1^st August 2019 to 1^st April 2023 (4 years), and the value of the extension is estimated to be £8.4m.

Arising from a question regarding quality assurance, the Committee was informed of the activities undertaken to ensure high quality support and accommodation was provided for Looked After Children and Care Leavers in the city, which included:-

·        For 16 & 17 year olds, a pathway plan and care plan for care leavers, overseen by a social worker, and continued access to an independent reviewing officer, meaning that individual needs are reviewed regularly.

·        Strong liaison between children’s services and the commissioning team in relation to sharing key intelligence, identifying and acting on any concerns identified; undertaking of regular spot checks of accommodation; and receipt of regular feedback from social workers and the Leaving Care service.

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a)      approves the commission of an 18-month extension (1 April 2023 – 30 September 2024) of the current Supported Accommodation (young people 16 - 25 years) DPS, with such variation having an estimated value of £8.4m;

(b)      requests the Director of Children’s Services to consider, as part of the re-commissioning exercise, how providers who either lease the tenancies or own the buildings can be encouraged to be as environmentally-friendly as they possibly can; and

(c)      supports the principle of the introduction of an Ofsted inspection regime for Supported Accommodation.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

Commissioning an extension to the existing arrangements will ensure our statutory duty continues to be met whilst allowing time for a full re-commissioning exercise to be undertaken.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

Not to proceed with an extension to the contract - the alternative option considered is not to proceed with the proposed extension, however, this raises the risk of an appropriately specified and monitored contract not being in place, which would be in breach of the Contract Procedure Rules (2015).

8.4.2

Additionally, the Local Authority will not be compliant in relation to its statutory duties to provide appropriate accommodation to Looked After Children and Care Leavers, therefore, this option is not recommended.

8.4.3

There are no additional implications arising out of the request to extend the current contract.