Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
RESOLVED:
That the Cabinet:
1. Accept the tender from Coram Voice for the provision of Advocacy Services and an Independent Visitor Scheme to the London Borough of Hillingdon for a five-year period from 1st October 2022 to 30th September 2027 at the value of £445,320.
2. Furthermore, agrees that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a two-year period (seven years in total), delegating approval of any extension to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, in consultation with the Executive Director of Children and Young People's Service.
Reasons for decisions
Following a competitive tender exercise, Cabinet approved the award a contract for the provision of advocacy services and an Independent Visitor Scheme so the Council could continue to meet its statutory obligations when supporting children and young people.
It was noted that good quality advocacy services help transform vulnerable children’s lives, enabling them to have an independent voice, break down communication barriers, and promote better outcomes, whilst the Independent Visitor Service provided a reliable, consistent, constant and independent friend to a looked after child.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Cabinet could have decided to bring the service in-house or consolidated all advocacy services, but considered this not suitable or independent enough to provide for the specific needs of children.
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Children, Families & Education |
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Expiry date for any scrutiny call-in / date decision can be implemented (if no call-in) |
5pm, Friday 9 September 2022 |
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Officer(s) to action |
Tehseen Kauser |
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Directorate |
Children & Young People’s Directorate |
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Classification |
Private - Whilst the Cabinet's decisions above are always made public, the officer report relating to this matter is not because it was considered in the private part of the meeting and contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it in accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). |
Publication date: 02/09/2022
Date of decision: 01/09/2022
Decided at meeting: 01/09/2022 - CABINET
Effective from: 10/09/2022