An Officer Key Decision was made regarding the procurement of an Advocacy Service, with a contract awarded to VoiceAbility Advocacy for a total value of £915,000 over two years, with an option to extend for a further year. This decision supports the council's statutory duties and corporate priorities.

Advocacy Service Contract Awarded to VoiceAbility Advocacy

The council has awarded a contract for an Integrated Advocacy Service to VoiceAbility Advocacy. This decision, made by Jason Strelitz, Corporate Director for Adults, Health and Communities, in consultation with Councillor Neil Wilson, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, will see VoiceAbility Advocacy provide the service for two years, with a potential one-year extension. The total value of the contract is £915,000.

The primary function of the Advocacy Service is to ensure residents' voices are heard and to support them in exercising choice and control. This service is crucial for the council to meet its statutory duties under legislation including The Care Act 2014, The Mental Capacity Act 2005, and The Mental Health Act 1983.

The service is structured into three tiers:

• Tier 1: Statutory Advocacy, including Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), and Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA).
• Tier 2: Statutory Advocacy for out-of-borough cases, including Rule 1.2 and Relevant Persons Representative (RPR) services.
• Tier 3: Non-Statutory Advocacy, which includes self-advocacy support, peer advocacy, and support for residents on the Autism Resident Advisory and Learning Disability Resident Advisory Groups.

The new contract will operate on a core and flex model, with 660 hours of core service provided annually, valued at up to £210,000, and an additional £95,000 available for spot purchases. This flexible approach aims to proactively meet demand across all tiers. Tier 3 services, often delivered by volunteers, provide preventative benefits by supporting individuals to develop self-confidence and communication skills, potentially reducing the need for statutory advocacy.

An open tender process was conducted, with three providers bidding for the contract. VoiceAbility Advocacy scored highest in the evaluation, making it the most economically advantageous tender. The decision to award the contract aligns with the council's 'Building a Fairer Newham' Corporate Plan 2022-26, specifically supporting priorities for a healthier Newham and ageing well, and supporting young people. It also contributes to the council's Community Wealth Building priorities by enabling the payment of the London Living Wage and ensuring the majority of the service is delivered by Newham residents.

The financial implications of the contract are managed through the Better Care Fund. The total maximum contract value remains at £305,000 per year, with a proposed £40,000 reduction to the core service, which could lead to annual savings if the flexible element is not fully utilised. Including out-of-borough Rule 1.2 and RPR advocacy within the core service at no additional cost is expected to generate savings of approximately £31,000 for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team. The contract also includes provisions for non-statutory advocacy, which, while having nominal associated costs, offers significant potential cost avoidance by supporting residents to access services earlier, preventing the intensification of needs, and fostering co-production activities.

The council has a statutory duty to provide advocacy services, making the do nothing option unviable. The decision-making process adhered to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as the contract value exceeded the light touch threshold. An Equalities Impact Assessment was completed in April 2024, which identified a significant need for the service and found no potentially adverse impacts.

The decision was made on 14 August 2024 and will be implemented from 22 August 2024, following the end of the call-in period.