Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration presented a report on proposals to provide accommodation and support tailored to the needs of young people leaving care via a new four-year framework contract with specialist providers.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Council currently met its responsibilities under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 via a number of smaller contracts and spot-purchasing arrangements.  The new framework contract would bring about improved standards and quality of accommodation while also providing a clearer pricing structure and efficiency savings for the Council.

In response to an enquiry, the Cabinet Member confirmed that the specification would highlight the Council’s preference for the accommodation to be within the Borough, although it was acknowledged that some specialist accommodation may not be available in-Borough while in some cases the young person leaving care may specifically ask to be housed outside of the Borough in order to make a fresh start. 

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that the Council proceeds with the procurement of a four-year framework contract for the provision of supported and unsupported accommodation together with outreach support for Care Leavers in accordance with the strategy set out in this report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Service Development and Integration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Law and Governance, to award and enter into the contract and access agreements.