Decision details

Date of Decision:

4 April 2025

Title:

Procurement of Children’s Education System

Decision Makers:

(Including Job Title)

Nicola Curley Strategic Director Children and Young People’s Service

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Agreement as per sub delegation scheme and to ensure robust auditing processes have been followed in accordance with Commissioned Services for a Accumulated Contract with a Value up to £100k, Accumulated Contract with a Value up to £500K and Accumulated Contract with a Value over £500K for the Head of Service, Assistant Director and Director of Children’s Services respectively.

The value of the new Education system is £3,819,167 which forms part of a total Contract value of £7,146,561 (Procurement of the Social Care and Early Help and Education systems).

The Contract is for a period of five years with an option to extend for a further five. 

The decision is taken in line with paragraph 8.4 of the Council’s Financial and Procurement Procedure Rules:

“Strategic Director and Budget Managers are authorised to incur expenditure in accordance with the estimates that make up the budget and the Capital Programme within their delegated areas of control.”

Decision:

The decision was made by Nicola Curley Strategic Director Children and Young People’s Service and Ian Spicer, Strategic Director for Adult Care, Housing & Public Health Services under their delegated powers to make a direct award to Liquidlogic Ltd (T/A System C Healthcare Ltd) through the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework for the purchase of Children’s and Adults Social Care software.  The Council’s CYPS and ACHPH directorates currently use this software for its Children and Adults Social Care Finance and Case Management requirements.

In addition to the existing software, the new award is to include EYES, Groupwork, EHCP, YJS and E-Gov modules (Education system).

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision enables continuity of current system and services as well as a route to purchase additional functionality, with the award being made in a compliant manner.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

1.           Retaining the current Capita Education System

This option was discounted due to the following disadvantages:-

·              Restrictions within the performance of the current system

·              Restrictions of using two separate systems within children’s services

2.           Tendering / further open competition for a new children’s Education system.

This option was discounted due to the following disadvantages:-

·              Restrictions of using two separate systems within children’s services

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

N/A

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered