Decision details

The purpose of this strategy is to set oThis report seeks approval to directly award contracts for a 24-month period to incumbent supported housing providers for young people at risk of homelessness and care leavers.

ut proposed changes to in-borough commissioned supported housing services for young people at risk of becoming homeless and or at risk of entering the care system as a result of becoming homeless.

It is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Children and Education:

1.    Notes and ratifies the direct award of a contract with Centrepoint for the provision of supported housing for young people from 1April 2020 to 31 March 2022 at an annual value of £310,296 and total sum of £620,592 for the two-year contract period.

2.    Notes and ratifies the direct award of a contract with St. Christopher’s Fellowship for the provision of supported housing from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022 at an annual value of £255,000 per annum and a total sum of £510,000 for the two- year contract period. 

As described in the report.

Option 1 – Do nothing, we do not believe this to be the right option, as the current contracts have now expired. We need to ensure we are achieving best value for money not only to meet the Council’s values, but to ensure sustainability of service to those whom we have a statutory responsibility to.

Option 2 – Long term Direct Contract Awards, to current providers is not a viable option.  Legally we must adhere to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.  Within which it also states that in order to achieve ‘Best Value’ we are obliged to run a competitive procurement exercise.

Option 3 – A short term direct award and a redesign and remodel the services by way of a competitive procurement exercise will ensure best value is achieved in the longer term as well as enabling more expensive out of borough SIL placements to be moved back into H&F. This will provide savings for the council and allow care leavers to access local services.  This is a more person centred and cost-effective approach.

This new contract will be awarded for a 24-month period, to allow expiry dates to then be aligned with other contracts that sit within the Care Leavers Pathway.  Future contractual alignment will provide greater commissioning opportunity going forward and allow commissioners to take a strategic approach to the management of both young people’s supported housing services and the main care leavers block contract.

For the reasons set out above that option 3 is recommended.