Decision

RESOLVED:

To award the contract for Domestic Abuse Accommodation Based Support Services - to Supplier A for both Lot 1 (a Culturally Specific Service) and Lot 2 (a Generic Service) for a period of up to seven years (5+1+1) commencing November 2024 at a maximum cost of £2,390,259.50.

Reason(s) For Decision

This report asks CPIC to approve the award of contract for the delivery of Domestic Abuse Accommodation Based Support services via two contract lots to Supplier A.  These contracts will deliver a culturally specific service and a generic service aimed at supporting single women and women with children who are fleeing domestic abuse.  These women are in need of a safe supportive environment where they can receive short-term intensive support.  The accommodation will be available for the duration of the contract and successful bidders will be required to enter into a management agreement with the appropriate Landlords to deliver these support services.

This provision will support the Council’s efforts to meet its statutory obligations with regard to providing domestic abuse support services as required under relevant Acts of Parliament.

Domestic abuse refuge services are needed in Hackney as they form part of a wider national and local agenda to safeguard women and girls.  Some of the policies and procedures that specifically link to the provision of safe accommodation are below.

The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) provides further protections for those people who experience domestic abuse, as well as strengthen measures to tackle perpetrators.  In addition to the new protections, it also places a duty on local authorities in England to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in refuge accommodation and other safe accommodation. 

The Care Act (2014) specifies that freedom from abuse and neglect is a key aspect of a person’s wellbeing, and local authorities have a duty to provide advice and support to prevent the arising or worsening of care and support needs arising from abuse.

The Housing Act (1996) / Homelessness Act 2002 & Housing Reduction Act (2017) specify that local authorities have a duty to provide housing advice to anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness - including those who are living in a refuge - and gives priority need to households experiencing domestic abuse needing secure suitable accommodation for those who are unable to remain in the family home.

The Contract will deliver support for both Culturally Specific Lot 1 and Generic Lot 2 to meet the local need.

Alternative Options (Considered and Rejected)

The following 5 options were appraised for the future of the provision in the borough

·  Option 1: Do nothing and allow existing Contract to end

·  Option2: Recommission current providers directly through negotiation

·  Option 3: Open Market Re-Procurement

·  Option 4: LBH delivery in-house

·  Option 5: Joint Procurement with LB Haringey

Option 3 - Open Market Re-Procurement was the preferred option and this was agreed by the Hackney Procurement Board on 9th January 2024.

·  The reasons for choosing this option are:

·  Opportunity to specify the service clearly and hold organisations to account

·  Design a service that is co-produced and fit for purpose

·  Align contracts to pan-London arrangements

·  Aligned services to wider VAWG objectives, including the DA Act 2021

·  Potential to achieve additional savings and/or service enhancements through a competitive process

·  Confirm the service delivery price for the duration of the contract (in the context of current inflationary pressures)

Option 1 - Do Nothing - was rejected as it would mean no further investment in safe accommodation from the Council which would be contrary to the duties on local authorities set out in the DA Act 2021.

Option 2 - Recommission current providers directly through negotiation - was not recommended as we would be open to a legal challenge if we did not go through a compliant procurement  process in line with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015; and

Option 5 - Joint procurement with LB Haringey - was considered but will not be taken forward due to differences in respective commissioning arrangements making this option unachievable.

Option 4 - LBH delivery in-house was considered as an option; however, at present this is not a viable option, as a viable market of providers with expertise in advocating and supporting victims of domestic abuse exists with many of the providers having years of knowledge and experience.  Within the contract price for this service, external providers can be more flexible to manage any cost increases or changes in the market in an innovative and cost effective way by utilising corporate partnerships, fundraising to bring added value to the contract.

There is also a need to commission culturally specific services which, because of the low volume and specific expertise needed, are best delivered by specialist providers. As well as the potential risk of losing properties that are used in the delivery of refuge services in Hackney is also a reason not to in-source.  The properties used by the Domestic Abuse service are owned by Housing Association landlords that are supportive of the current delivery model. When asked, they confirmed that they would continue to make the properties available to known providers of domestic abuse services (see Exempt Appendix 4 for more information).