Agenda item

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Operational Commissioner (Strategic Commissioning) that outlined the existing contract that was in place with Safe@Last to provide one-to-one support to young people up to the age of 16 who had run away from home or care or who were at risk of doing so.  The report also outlined a variation and extension that was necessary for the contract. 

The existing contract was in place until 31^st March, 2015.  A sub-regional commissioning process had taken place across South Yorkshire for the contract between 1^st May, 2015 – 31^st March, 2018.  No tenders were received.  It was proposed that the existing contract with Safe@Last be extended for two months whilst the future commissioning arrangements were determined.

It was also proposed that a variation to the existing contract be made so that the same level of service could be provided to 17 year olds.  This would be at a cost of £3,266.61. 

The report noted: -

·         The majority of referrals to the service were from the Police;

·         All young people who had been referred to the service were contacted and offered a return interview;

·         Ongoing support relating to a wide-range of issues including family breakdown, anger issues, bereavement, self-harm, eating disorders, substance misuse, sexual exploitation, mental health issues and depression was available;

·         Currently the service was commissioned by the Local Authority.  The aspiration was to commission across the sub-region of South Yorkshire, although no interest had been shown in this contract as of 30^th January, 2015;

·         In October and November, 2014, Safe@Last had received referrals for 65 children and had conducted 33 return interviews (50.7%);

·         The highest recorded reasons why young people chose to run away were ‘to be with friends’ and ‘family problems’;

·         With the young person’s permission, a copy of the return interview was sent to Children’s Social Care to the Contract, Assessment and Referral Team so that they could look for and identify any concerns or trends relating to child sexual exploitation;

·         Young people had a choice about whether to take up the interview.  Not all return interviews were taken up.  Sometimes carers refused the return interviews on behalf of their young person.  Some young people were not contactable to conduct the interview;

·         The reasons for the return interviews being declined were starting to be recorded so that actions could be taken to address the and encourage young people;

·         It was recognised that young people between the ages of 16 – 18 were  equally as vulnerable as younger children.  Going missing was a trigger relating to child sexual exploitation;

·         Safe@Last had proposed to appoint a project worker to meet the needs of 17 year olds as they could not provide this within the existing contract due to capacity;

·         Additional funding of £3,266.61 had been agreed by the Director of Safeguarding and Disability, Children and Young People’s Services Directorate;

·         The Police and Crime Commissioner expected each local authority in South Yorkshire to have a MISPER service;

·         The commissioning group consisted of the four local authorities, South Yorkshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and intended to enable a South Yorkshire MISPER service.

In order that the sub-regional commissioning approach could be re-considered, an exemption from Standing Order 38 (Exemptions) and Standing Order 47 (Contracts valued at less than £50,000) was required to extend the contract for two months to 31^st May, 2015, and to enact the variation of contract to include the service to 17 year olds. 

Discussion followed, and the following issues were raised: -

·         Why had Safe@Last not submitted a tender for the contract? – The organisation had been reluctant to enter into a three-year contract.  The organisation raised a lot of their own funding through fundraising and charitable contributions.

Resolved: - (1)  That the report be received and its content noted. 

(2)  That the existing contract with Safe@Last be varied to enable them to provide the same level of service to young people aged 17.

(3)  That an exemption to Standing Order 47 (Contracts valued at less than £50,000) be made for two months and the contract with Safe@Last be extended to enable the longer-term commissioning approach to be considered.

(4)  That an extension to the existing Safe@Last contract be confirmed for two months to 31^st May, 2015, so that there is no break in service.