Purpose

The Cabinet Member will consider two contract
variations for Statutory Advocacy Service contract to incumbent
providers; The Advocacy Project (TAP) and POhWER for the provision of statutory advocacy
services across Westminster.

Decision

Summary of Decision: The Cabinet Member
for Adult Social Care, Public Health and the Voluntary Sector has
approved the contracts to The Advocacy Project and POhWER, and
approved a waiver of the City of Westminster’s Procurement
Code from the requirement to only extend contracts where an
extension option is available and permitted by the terms of the
contract. 
 
Reason for Decision: This
recommendation is made to ensure the City of Westminster (WCC)
fulfils its duty under The Care Act 2014 which places a duty on
Local Authorities ‘to promote choice and control by the
individual around their care and support and how it is
delivered’; and in all matters governed by the Care Act
‘to start from the assumption that the individual is best
placed to be able to judge the individual’s
wellbeing’.These are statutory Advocacy Services, and the
Council is therefore obliged to ensure appropriate service
provision is in place. There is not an option for there to be a gap
in service, otherwise the Council would be failing in delivering
their statutory responsibilities in this area under the Care Act
2014.