Councillor Georgia Twigg, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, is scheduled to consider a report regarding a contract for Deaf Outreach Services. This meeting will also cover general administrative matters.

Deaf Outreach Services Contract

The Cabinet Member for Children and Schools is scheduled to review a report concerning a contract for the provision of Deaf Outreach Services. This service, previously known as the Hearing Impairment Outreach Service, has been delivered by Haringey Council to schools in Enfield on behalf of Enfield Council for over 20 years.

Following a competitive procurement process conducted by Enfield Council under the Procurement Act 2023, Haringey Council was successful in its tender submission. The proposed contract is for an initial period of two years, commencing on 1st September 2026, with the option to extend for up to two further one-year periods, making a total potential contract duration of four years. The annual value of the contract is £376,000, with a total potential value of £1,504,000 over the maximum term, excluding VAT and any agreed indexations.

The report outlines that entering into this contract will enable Haringey Council to deliver a unified service across both boroughs, allowing the Haringey Sensory Support Team to work more flexibly and efficiently. This increased capacity is expected to help the team develop specialisms, making it easier to fill vacancies in a role for which there is a nationwide shortage of qualified teachers.

The report also considers the alternative of not entering into the contract, which could lead to staffing implications for Haringey Council, including potential redundancies and the loss of specialist expertise. It also highlights the significant impact on Enfield Council, which would need to find an alternative provider at short notice, potentially disrupting service provision for deaf children and young people. Furthermore, not securing the contract could damage Haringey Council's reputation and its relationship with Enfield Council.

The contract aligns with the Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, specifically contributing to the outcome areas of Best start in life, Happy childhoods, and Successful futures for children and young people. The report also touches upon carbon and climate change, encouraging the use of sustainable transport methods for staff travelling between boroughs.

The report includes comments from statutory officers, including Finance, Strategic Procurement, and Legal and Governance. The Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer), Fiona Alderman, confirms there are no legal reasons preventing the Cabinet Member from approving the recommendations. The report also addresses the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010, noting that providing this service will help mitigate inequalities for deaf children and young people, positively impacting protected characteristics such as age and disability.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, 2nd November 2026, at 12:00 pm at Alexandra House, 10 Station Road, N22 7TR. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The relevant documents for this meeting are the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.