Decision details

Procurement strategy and business case for the provision of early intervention link worker support services for children and young people.

Reasons for urgency:

Current contract for provision due to expire.

That the Leader:

1.       Approves the procurement strategy for the provision of early intervention link worker support for children and young people for a period of up to 4 years (delivered over five financial years) at a maximum contract value of £999,000, funded from s106 and/or reserves.

2.       Delegates the contract award decision to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Education.

3.       Notes the Director of Children’s Services and Strategic Director of Finance and Governance will provide an update on this provision to relevant cabinet members in January 2021.

4.       Approves the allocation of £559,680 of s106 funds to fund the expected costs of the current contract and the first year of the new contract in 2020/21.

5        Notes that the funding of £845,000 for 2021/22 to 2024/25 has not yet been identified and will need to be identified by the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Strategic Director for the Economy department and the Strategic Director of Finance and Governance and will be subject to a further Cabinet decision. 

1.     To support children and young people considered ‘at risk’ but inadequately supported by other services; enabling children and young people to thrive at the right time and manage demand for high cost specialist interventions later.

2.     To support the delivery of several business plan objectives outlined in appendix 1 and strengthen early intervention.

Option 1 – Do not commission a service

Option 2 –Commission a service offering better value for money 

This is the recommended option.

Option 3: Commission a service benefiting fewer children and young

         people at a reduced cost