Decision details

For the Director of Housing and Growth to waive the requirement of CSO 9.01 as permitted under Contract Standing Order 10.01.02 (d)(ii) and (iii) and award the Home Sweet Home Contract as permitted under CSO 10.01.1(b) to Metropolitan with a maximum value of £158,080 with an option to extend the contract for a period of 12 months.

The term of the contract shall be from 1st August 2017 to 31st July 2018. The total value of the contract including the extension is £316,160.

The current contract is due to expire on 31st July 2017 and there is no further facility to extend beyond this date. In order to ensure continuity of the service which is valued enormously by its users, it is important that a contract is in place following the expiration of the current contract.

It is in the Council’s overall interest to agree a waiver and award a contract to Metropolitan for the delivery of the current Home Sweet Home service to ensure continuity whilst a strategic programme of transformation of Housing Related Support (HRS) commissioning and service pathways is implemented as agreed by Cabinet in the report on the Supported Housing Review published on the 14th of March 2017.

The Supported Housing Review sets out a vision, principles and recommendations that will ensure that housing support is able to meet the needs of vulnerable residents now and in the future. Modernising and improving the Council housing support offer, with a particular focus on preventing housing and health crisis and maximising independence will bring about improved outcomes for Haringey residents and ensure our services are cost-effective and in line with our refreshed housing and social care priorities.

There is a demonstrable need for this service provision which supports older people to continue to live independently in their own homes. It is not considered in service users best interest, and would not deliver efficiencies to tender the service whilst the strategic programme of transformation is taking place.

The service meets the Council’s strategic
objectives of delivering short term housing
related support, early intervention, tenancy
sustainment services; preventing escalation of
need and demand on health and social care provisions.

Procurement though an open tender process was considered, however this would not enable the efficiencies and improvements that can be gained in strategic commissioning exercises with partners and may result in an increase in the price of contracts without corresponding value for money benefits.

De-commissioning the services was considered, but despite the immediate financial pressures on the Council this option has been ruled out as it would worsen outcomes for Haringey residents. Savings will be achieved when aligned with service improvements.