Purpose

The County Council has a
statutory duty to provide a range of services to assist parents and
carers of Children and Young People with disabilities and complex
needs in ensuring appropriate and effective provision for the Child
or Young Person in their care. Where these needs impact
significantly on daily life, it can be necessary to commission
specialist support and care provision.
 
In February 2021 the Cabinet
Member for Children and Young People approved the commencement of a
procurement process to establish a new Framework Agreement for
Family and Community Support for Children and Young People with
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as the mechanism
for sourcing these services, decision
CYP02(20/21) refers. As part of the
decision the Cabinet Member also delegated authority to the
Executive Director Children, Young People and Learning to
implement the Framework Agreement for the initial 4-year period
and further extension periods as necessary.
 
The contract commenced in
September 2021 and the framework has been operating successfully
during this time, offering a structured and effective approach to
securing specialist support. Given its proven success and the
ongoing demand for specialist services, it is proposed to extend
the contract for the maximum term permitted to maintain the
continuity of family and community support for children and young
people with SEND.

Decision

The Executive Director of Children, Young
People and Learning has approved the extension of the Framework for
Family and Community Support for Children and Young People with
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities for a period of 4 years
to September 2029.