Decision

Record of Decision:
To approve the award of a £38,367 contract to DCA Recruitment for the provision of a temporary Rough Sleeper Outreach Team Administrator from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027 under delegated authority 2.8.7 of the Constitution.
Summary:
It has been decided to enter into a contract with DCA Recruitment for the provision of a temporary Administrator to support the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team. The team is under increasing pressure during winter months when additional staff resource is required to bolster the service.
The contract will run from 1 September 2026 until 31 March 2027.The total contract value is £38,367.

Reasons for the decision

Ending rough sleeping is a key priority for the current Government, evidenced by the launch of the National Plan to End Homelessness in December 2025. To support delivery of this commitment, the Government has launched the Rough Sleeper Programme, which provides additional funding and resources to help local authorities and their partners:
•Ensure that rough sleepers have a route off the streets, particularly during the winter period.
•Increase the availability of emergency, supported and move-on accommodation.
•Develop local solutions that reflect the needs of individual areas, including rural and urban communities.
•Strengthen partnership working between housing, health, social care, probation, substance misuse and voluntary sector services.
•Provide targeted support for individuals with complex needs, including mental ill-health, substance misuse issues and offending histories.
•Support the development of longer-term accommodation solutions, including Housing First and other evidence-based models.
•Reduce repeat rough sleeping through earlier intervention and sustained support.
The Council experiences increased demand for rough sleeping and homelessness services during the winter months. Additional administrative support is required to enable the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team to focus on frontline casework, outreach activity and the provision of support to rough sleepers during this period of heightened demand.
The additional resource will also support the Council in delivering local priorities relating to rough sleeping and homelessness. In particular, it will help the Council contribute towards the objectives of the Government's National Plan to End Homelessness and the Rough Sleeper Programme, which focus on preventing and reducing rough sleeping.
DCA Recruitment is an established and trusted supplier to the Council and is able to provide suitable temporary staffing resources within the required timescales. The appointment will assist the Council in maintaining service delivery and responding effectively to seasonal pressures associated with rough sleeping and homelessness.
The expenditure can be met from an existing approved establishment budget and a staff Budget Control Form was approved by the Executive Director on 15/6/26.

Alternative options considered

MUST be completed / actions explained. If there are no alternative options, state 'None'.
•Proceeding without additional administrative support was considered but rejected due to the anticipated impact on service delivery and frontline capacity during the winter period and the requirement to contribute to the objectives of the National Plan to end Homelessness and the Rough Sleeper Programme
•Recruiting directly to a temporary post was considered but rejected due to the timescales involved and the immediate need for support, as set out in requirements of the Rough Sleeper Programme.
•Alternative agency arrangements were considered; however, DCA Recruitment was identified as the most practical option due to its existing relationship with the Council and ability to provide suitable staffing support quickly.