Content

14.1

The Assistant
Director for Commissioning and Partnerships introduced the report
which recommended commissioning a 1-year contract with a value of
up to £265,000 for the supply of autism outreach services
from an external specialist provider, so that the Council can
ensure service continuity and support its statutory
responsibilities under the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND
Code of Practice, and Equality Act
2010.

 

 

14.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That Education, Children and Families Policy
Committee:-
 
a)   
Approve the commissioning of a 1-year autism outreach contract up
to a value of £265,000, to an external specialist provider,
continuing an existing commission.

 

 

14.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

14.3.1

The decision will help ensure that the Council
will continue to have an autism outreach contract in place for the
forthcoming academic year (2025/26). This will support the Autism
Social Communication Education and Training Service and assist with
improved outcomes for autistic children and young people and their
families across Sheffield.

 

 

14.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

14.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Council self-delivers autism outreach
 
The Council delivers
its own autism outreach service from the existing ASCETS staff
team. It is not a viable option for the Council to deliver autism
outreach because it does not have the capacity to meet demand or
continue with current levels of delivery. This option would
effectively mean not continuing with a level of service that has a
positive impact for children and young people within Sheffield.

 

 

14.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Do nothing / do not recommission
 
Allowing the current
contract to cease naturally and not undertaking a recommission of
the service. This is not a viable option as it would cause a
considerable gap in the support provided for children and young
people with autism needs in mainstream schools, which is an area of
significant need. This option would increase the risk of children
and young people’s needs not being met within their
mainstream environment, leading to mainstream placement breakdown
and causing even more demand and reliance on specialist placements.
This option would reduce the positive impacts and opportunities
provided for children and young people through this service, whilst
being an extremely costly option for the Council and not value for
money