Purpose

To appointment of a Provider to deliver the Provision of Best Start Family Hub Peer Support and Volunteering Service.

Decision

Following a redesign of Early Intervention & Prevention services and the implementation of an integrated neighbourhood model to support, children, young people and their families through a scaled up Best Start in Life Family Hub Network.

This contract supports developing capacity within communities to build resilience and co-produce services that align with the best practice framework for wider public services reform We have seen significant efficacy of the delivery of peer support and volunteering services in Manchester within Family Hub delivery across the last 3 years.  The current commissioning specification will allow this approach to be extended across the city within each of our neighbourhoods and will contribute to organisational and national expectations around the provision of services for expectant and new parents.  We also expect to see the recruitment and training of local volunteers, skilling up our communities and supporting residents to gain paid employment in the future.  Through this commission, we will meet the requirements of the DfE Family Hub grant allocation

Extending the existing contract was considered and rejected as it would not provide a compliant long-term solution and would not test the market to determine whether improved service delivery, innovation and value for money could be achieved.

Insourcing was also considered and not taken forward as it would require the Council to establish the necessary capacity, expertise and infrastructure to deliver the service directly. Following consideration of the operational and resource implications, external delivery through an open procurement process was considered the most appropriate delivery model.