Purpose

Summary

This report seeks approval to award a contract to deliver a Return Home Interview (RHI) Service for children and young people. This is a statutory service and provides an essential part of the Council’s multidisciplinary response to supporting and safeguarding vulnerable children and young people who go missing from home or from care. In 2017 a total of 1,189 missing episodes were reported.

The award is for a single contract for three years from 1st November 2018 to 31st October 2021, with an option to extend for a further period of one year from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2022.

The Council has a mixed model for delivering RHIs. This contract focuses primarily on the delivery of an RHI service to children and young people who are placed out of the Borough of Barnet that go missing. The majority of interviews for children living within Barnet are completed by Family Services.

Decisions

1.    To award the RHI contract to St Christopher’s Fellowship. This contract will commence on 1st November 2018, at an annual price of £50,000 for up to 60 referrals for interview per year with the option to increase this price subject to any increase in referrals if required as explained in paragraph 5.2.9 to 5.2.11. The maximum total price of the contract is £397,640 over the four-year contract life (including a one year extension). The contract will be awarded for a period of three years, with the option to extend to a further period of one year.

2.    To purchase any additional hours of RHI provision at £35 per hour.