Decision details

Date of Decision:

20 December 2022

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Ian Spicer

Strategic Director, Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Sub-scheme of delegation and Financial Procedure Rule 68.3.3.

Brief Description of Decision:

To utilise the available contract extension clause, to extend the end date of the contract for Advocacy Services with Cloverleaf Advocacy, from 31 March 2023, for a period of 1 year, to 31 March 2024.

Reasons for the Decision:

Independent advocacy services are necessary to meet all of the Councils statutory requirements under the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Mental Health Act 2007 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

In addition to statutory advocacy, non-statutory advocacy services are necessary for  people who have difficulty articulating and negotiating their health and social care needs.  This support empowers people to effectively navigate the health and social care system. 

Independent Statutory and non-statutory advocacy services in Rotherham are provided by Cloverleaf Advocacy T/A Absolute Advocacy.  Cloverleaf were awarded the contract following a competitive process and commenced service in April 2020 for an agreed term of 3 years + 1 + 1 year. 

The service operates a ‘Lead Provider’ model where Absolute Advocacy as the leading  organisation are responsible for the whole contract, including delivering statutory advocacy services, sub-contracting/contract management of NHS Complaints Advocacy, sub-contracting/contract management and development of non-statutory advocacy services.  The Lead Provider ensures services are efficient, accessible and are supportive of people in the navigation of service options most appropriate to need.

The Lead Provider model has been successful in terms of offering, streamlined access to all forms of advocacy, continuity for people who require multiple advocacy types, and using capacity efficiently.  Whilst the objective to develop group advocacy, peer advocacy and self-advocacy have progressed, the original objective to sub-contract to the voluntary sector organisations has not been achieved due to the negative impact of Covid-19 in first the 2 years of the contract period. 

Cloverleaf Advocacy t/a Absolute Advocacy deliver a high quality service and are compliant with the contract terms and conditions and provide both statutory and non-statutory advocacy effectively. 

This Decision will provide continuity of service and allow the original objectives outlined above to be fully achieved.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

None considered.

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

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A.

Reports or parts of reports considered

None considered.