Decision details

This report requests approval to extend the current contract for the delivery of Oldham’s Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitor service from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020.
The current contract for the delivery of Oldham’s Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitor service is delivered by Cuffe and Lacey Ltd (formerly Excel Social Work and Therapeutic Services) who commenced delivery on 1st July 2017 following a competitive tender process. The contract is due to expire on March 31st 2019 although there is an option to extend this contract by a further twelve months.
The provision of the service is a statutory requirement and aims to -
•Ensure that children and young people are aware of and able to access appropriate services
•Provide advice and information so that children and young people are empowered to ensure their views and wishes are heard, their rights are respected and reflected in the decision making about their lives in order to assist them in making balanced decisions regarding their welfare and support.
•Provide an independent visitor to advise and befriend those children and young people where it is considered in their best interests.
Contract Monitoring Data shows that for this current year (up until Q3) 23 referrals for advocacy had been received with an additional 37 children and young people supported in their conference and review processes.
Recruitment of Independent Visitors (IVs) has been an ongoing issue with this contract which predates the appointment of the current provider. There are currently 4 young people awaiting allocation of an IV.
The provider is represented on the Corporate Parenting Panel and has made constructive working links with the Children in Care Council.
There is ongoing dialogue with the provider and the Safeguarding Unit about how to maximise the benefit of advocacy to the child protection conference process.

RESOLVED - That: That approval is given to extend the contract for the delivery of Oldham’s Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent visitor service for one year for a total contract value of £61,000. This is within Procurement rules, and the scope for this extension is within the specification of the original contract.
This option maintains service continuity and enables current areas of improvement and development to be followed through to implementation.

Option 1 – agree an extension to the current arrangements.
That approval is given to extend the contract for the delivery of Oldham’s Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Independent visitor service for one year for a total contract value of £61,000. This is within Procurement rules, and the scope for this extension is within the specification of the original contract.
This option maintains service continuity and enables current areas of improvement and development to be followed through to implementation.
Option 2 – source an alternative provider of the service.
The service will need to be recommissioned for delivery from 1st April 2020 and it is not viable to bring this process forward by any significant degree. The last time the service was tendered the current provider was the only bidder and this was thought due to the funding envelope available. Services such as this could lend themselves to collaborative commissioning with another local authority and it is a possibility worth exploring.

Option 2 – source an alternative provider of the service.
The service will need to be recommissioned for delivery from 1st April 2020 and it is not viable to bring this process forward by any significant degree. The last time the service was tendered the current provider was the only bidder and this was thought due to the funding envelope available. Services such as this could lend themselves to collaborative commissioning with another local authority and it is a possibility worth exploring.

N/A