Decision details

Date of Decision:

11 September 2025

Title:

Extension of Domestic Abuse Outreach Service Contract

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Under Section 4C3 of Appendix 9 of the Constitution the (Responsibilities for Functions), the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised to discharge executive functions through the commissioning and provision of social services for adults and public health services for the whole population and delivery of housing for the Borough, including at Part 3: -

     Public Health (a) Commissioning and Quality (b) Health Improvement (c) Health Intelligence (d) Health Protection

Decision:

To extend the Domestic Abuse Outreach contract for 12 months as permitted in the contract terms.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Domestic Abuse Outreach Contract commenced 1 October 2022, following an open procurement process. The service is delivered by Hopian (formerly Rotherham Rise). The initial contract term ends 30 September 2025, with an option to extend for up to two years.

The decision to extend for one year was recommended.

This will take the current contract term to 30 September 2026 leaving the option of a further one-year extension. This also allows for a 12-month procurement timeline for any new service that will be needed when this contract expires.  The risks are assessed as low as this would allow a continuation of the current service that is delivering on both performance and outcomes.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option one – extend the contract for the full two years permitted.

The contract extension clause is ‘up to two years’ which covers any time period up to the full two years (inclusive). This would allow further time to scope out delivery models and shape commissioning intentions. However, as the Domestic Abuse Strategy refresh will be completed by December 2025, this option would mean the current service provision could not be revised for a further 22 months, should the strategy refresh lead to any changes.

Option two – do not extend the contract.

This option was discounted as would leave a gap in provision for the Council where there is a clear, identified, ongoing need.

These two options were not recommended.

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Officer Decision Long Report DA Outreach Extension Final V8 (This is the Delegated Officer Decision Report)