Decision details

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director Safeguarding and Partnerships which sought approval to extend the contract for the delivery of Oldham’s Integrated Support Services for Young People with the current provider Positive Steps for the period 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020.

The Cabinet was informed that the Council currently commissioned Positive Steps to deliver a range of services to support Oldham’s young people under the overarching banner of Targeted Youth Services. Whilst Positive Steps had been the provider of some of these services for some considerable time,

the current contractual arrangement commenced in April 2015. The service offer consisted of

·       support to young people around sexual health and substance misuse;

·       services for young carers;

·       delivery of missing from home return interviews;

·       careers information advice and guidance to vulnerable groups and

·       Youth Justice Service.

The Cabinet noted that many of these services had their basis in statutory requirements of the local authority and stakeholders within the Council ranged across public health, education and children’s social care.

Contract monitoring and performance data showed overall good performance against the contract, particularly when considered against budget reductions over the four years it had been in place. Both the SEND review in October 2017 and the independently-led review into children’s social care in January 2018 highlighted positive aspects of delivery.

An example of the success of the integrated model across Positive Steps was the education, employment and training (EET) outcomes for young people involved in the criminal justice system. The addition of a resettlement and education co-ordinator to the team had continued to evidence a positive impact on outcomes.

The Council was close to completing a strategic review of the approach to

early intervention and prevention. This review would make recommendations about investment in, commissioning and design of preventative services for both adults and children on a place-based footing that may have direct relevance to this contract(s) and how, going forward, the range of services currently provided would integrate with preventative activity taking place in

communities.

An extension of twelve months to the current contract with Positive Steps would allow the implications of these recommendations to be worked through and implemented.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option1 - exercise the option to extend the current contract for twelve months.

Option 2 - cease commissioning arrangements with Positive Steps.

RESOLVED - That the Cabinet would consider the commercially

sensitive information contained at Item 16 of the agenda.