Purpose

Proposed Decision: To commission, via an external provider, a service that supports young carers.

Reason for decision:

The existing Young Carers service contract will end in May 2027 and requires recommissioning to enable Kent County Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 96 of the Children and Families Act 2014, which requires all young carers under 18 to receive a needs assessment.

The overarching aim of a Young Carers Service is the assessment of caring responsibilities to help young people reconnect with activities that allow them to experience childhood, while still recognising their caring responsibilities.

The proposal is to commission an externally delivered Kent Young Carers Support Service

Total value of the contract exceeds £1m and impacts more than two electoral divisions.

Background:

·         Local authorities have a statutory duty to support young carers by providing a needs assessment for every young carer under the age of 18, regardless of who they care for or the type or amount of care they provide.

·         This proposal seeks approval to commission a new Kent Young Carers Support Service. It includes delegating responsibility to the Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education to award a contract with an initial term of four years (with a two year, plus two year extension) following a compliant procurement process and to carry out contract management and oversight,

·         Commissioning activity includes developing the Specification with professional stakeholders and young carers.

Options        

In any commissioning activity, the options considered included

1.    Do nothing

2.    Creating a new in-house model

3.    Externally commissioning a new service

These will be explored in more detail for the Recommendation Report.

Links to the Council’s Strategic Statement

1.1.This proposal aligns to Aim 3 of Reforming Kent[1] 2025-2028 “Supporting residents that need help.”

·         The proposed service would identify, support, and empower young carers so they can achieve positive outcomes in education, health, and wellbeing, while reducing the negative impact of caring responsibilities on their childhood and future opportunities.

[1] Reforming Kent2025-2028

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, I agree to:

1. APPROVE the commencement of procurement activity for a new Young Carers Service to commence on 1 May 2027.
2. APPROVE the commissioning approach to procure a four years, plus two years, plus two years contract for a Young Carers Service
3. DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education, to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to, finalising the terms of, and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as required to implement the decision.