Purpose

• Under the previous Government, Lincolnshire was previously selected as one of the 75 local authorities to benefit from the Department for Education (DfE) and Department for health and Social Care (DHSC) funded Start for Life and Family Hubs Programme. The current Government has recently announced the continuation and expansion of the programme through the Best Start Family Hubs Programme from 1st April to 2026 to 31st March 2029.
• The Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life Strategy sets out the Government’s commitment to improve child development and increase the good level of development (GLD) of all children by 2028.
• VIGHK Ltd holds the exclusive rights to deliver the same bespoke VIG training commissioned by Health Education England.
• VIG training is video intervention, and video interventions which promote positive parenting are part of the menu of programmes listed by the DfE that can be funded through the Best Start Family Hubs programme and therefore meets the criteria as set out by the DfE to be constituted as a parenting support evidence-based intervention.
• The Council has already accessed a number of nationally funded VIG training places in addition to commissioning additional VIG training via VIGHK Ltd for identified staff who are currently supporting young children and their families through the use of VIG.
• Market research has suggested that although there are other providers of the standard VIG training it does not meet the Council’s or the Start for Life and Family Hubs programme requirements, as this training is not consistent with the training already accessed by the Council and also commissioned by Health Education England.
• Continuing to commission the same provider will ensure consistency of delivery and technique not only for staff but also for young children and their families accessing support
through the use of VIG.

Decision

That the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services approves an exception to the Council’s Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules (CPPRs) to increase the value of, and extend, the current contractual arrangement with Video Interaction Guidance HK (VIGHK) Ltd for the delivery of further bespoke Best Start VIG training, supervision and associated resources for identified FH and EYCC staff.

The total overall value of the current contractual arrangement with VIGHK Ltd will increase by £32,900 (excluding VAT) to
£98,190).

The new contractual arrangement will be in place from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029 and the overall value will be a
minimum of £98,190 (excluding VAT) or £117,828 (including VAT).

Alternative options considered

Do nothing. The Council has identified the need to train more staff in VIG which is one of the evidence-based programmes currently funded through the Start for Life and Family Hubs programme. To do nothing could result in the Council failing to fully meet its requirements as part of this programme, in particular the Parent-Infant Relationships workstream. Furthermore, this could also negatively impact on the Council in ensuring a consistent approach across the County when working with Lincolnshire children and families.

Undertake a Request for Quotation (RFQ) process seeking at least three written quotations. Market research has shown that although there are other VIG trainers in the market they only offer the standard VIG training, which does not match the training already provided through VIGHK Ltd procured by both Lincolnshire County Council and Health Education England under the Start for Life and Family Hubs programme. Therefore, an RFQ is unlikely to result in a different outcome. This will require officer time to complete and given that it is unlikely to result in a different outcome this is not a recommended option.