Content

Salford City Council – Record of
Decision
 
I Councillor Youd, Lead Member
for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement
Board, accept the recommendation of the Procurement Board and in
exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do
hereby approve:
 
·    
going out to tender/ competition to commission a
Connecting Care Leavers Service.
 
The Reasons are:
A
Connecting Care Leavers service contributes to addressing mental
health needs, poorer outcomes and inequalities experienced by care
leavers.
 
The
commissioning of a Connecting Care Leavers Service would reduce the
risk of adverse outcomes for vulnerable care leavers.
 
Options considered and rejected
were:
·    
Not commissioning a service.
·    
Commissioning a service at a reduced
value.
 
Assessment of Risk:
If a
Connecting Care Leavers programme is not commissioned, the key risk
would be reduced support and less favourable outcomes for Salford
Care Leavers.
 
The
continuation of commissioning a Connecting Care Leavers Service
would reduce the risk of adverse outcomes for vulnerable care
leavers. Not commissioning this service would place additional
pressures on Salford City Council’s Next Steps leaving care
service and on commissioned mental health services (both
children’s and adults) and other services in Salford,
including increased presentations via A&E and increased demand
for All Age Mental Health Liaison Service assessments.
 
There is also high-risk that statutory obligations to address
care leavers’ mental health needs would not be
met.
 
The source of funding is:
Council and NHS.
 
Legal Advice obtained: Tony
Hatton 219 6323
When
commissioning contracts for the procurement of goods, services, or
the execution of works the City Council as a ‘contracting
authority’ must comply with the Public Contract Regulations
2015 as well as the provisions of its own Contractual Standing
Orders (CSO’s), Financial Regulations and the duties of Best
and Social value. In addition, the Regulations require that
contracting authorities treat candidates equally and in a
non-discriminatory way and act in a transparent manner, failing
which the award of a contract may be subject to legal challenge.
The report sets out that subject to funding being approved the
Council proposes to undertake a procurement process for this
service which will provide the tailored and intensive support
needed as a key part of the statutory Pathway Plan to adulthood
required under The Children Act 1989, revised 2022, to be compliant
with the requirements of CSO’s and public procurement
legislation. Undertaking the tender exercise in the recommendation
will give some comfort to the Council in ensuring that value for
money is being obtained and periodically tested, with open
competition maintained. The carrying out of this procurement
exercise will ensure that the risk of challenge to the award of the
contract to the selected contractor is minimal and that any
challenge, should it materialise, is unlikely to be successful.
Whilst the term of the existing contract is fixed, the report notes
that in line with the Salford Compact which recommends a 6 month
notice period be given to providers connected to CVS
services.
 
Financial Advice obtained: Ian
Johnson 0161 778 0220
The
additional Council contribution of £44,956 has been
identified from Core funding which has been vired from available budget within Children’s
in-year. To ensure ongoing financial commitment from the Council to
the Connecting Care Leavers Service of £64,956 per annum,
this will be factored into the Children’s Medium Term
Financial Plan (MTFP) as part of the ongoing budget planning
process and be subject to the final funding decision by Council as
part of the annual budget-setting process.  The total annual funding for the service, which
also includes a contribution from the NHS, totals £124,956.
To note the funding contribution from the Council has increased
from 25% to 52% since the service last went out to
tender.
 
This
approach ensures that the Council’s financial commitment is
planned for and sustainable, pending Council approval. Should the
funding be approved, sufficient budget will be available to deliver
the Connecting Care Leavers Service as outlined in this
report.
 
Procurement Advice obtained:
Tom Pyne 0161 686 6245
Procurement’s views align with those outlined by Legal
above. Procurement are supporting the process from initial
pre-market engagement through to and including the appropriate
procurement route.
 
HR Advice obtained:
N/A.
 
Climate Change Implications
obtained: Michael Hemingway 0161 793 3209
The impacts of this service are
quite limited. They keep services local which keeps emissions low.
The current provider also encourages active travel through cycling
and running.
 
The service is good for the
city and for care leavers as it creates a support network and helps
mainstream equalities.
 
The following documents have
been used to assist the decision process:
·    
the relevant documents contain exempt or
confidential information and are not available for public
inspection.
 
Contact Officer: Catarina
Lima
Telephone number: 0161 603
4255
 

·    
This matter is also subject to consideration by the
Lead Member for   Children’s
and Young People’s Services. The Lead Member has been
consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.
 
 
 
 

Signed:     Cllr J
Youd        Dated:   10 November
2025.
         
     Lead
Member
 

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE
ONLY:
 
*         This
decision was published on 11 November 2025
*         This
decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 18 November 2025 unless
it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process
Rules.