Decision details
Waiver of Contract Standing Orders and contract award to Drive Forward Foundation for employment consultancy for Young Adult Service Children and Young People’s Service funded via the DWP North London Flexible Support Fund Partnership Grant Funding I
Decision Maker: Head of Programme Management
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
Head of Programme Management to:
i. Approve the waiver of the usual requirement for tendering under
Contract Standing Order (CSO) 8.03 (requirement to obtain at least
three competitive quotations) as allowed under CSO 10.01.2 D (ii)
and in accordance with CSO 9.06.1 to enable the decision in (ii)
below.
ii. Approve the award of the contract for the provision of
Employment Consultancy for Young Adult Service (YAS) to Drive
Forward Foundation (14-15 Lower Marsh SE1 7RJ).
Reasons for the decision:
In line with the Good Economy Recovery Plan,
it is essential that the support provided by Drive Forward
continues, for Haringey to implement and achieve our targeted
approach, focussing our employment and skills training support on
those most impacted by COVID-19. Care leavers are outlined in the
Employment and Skills Recovery Action Plan as a target group that
requires tailored provision to address barriers to
employment.
Drive Forward Foundation, in respect of the provision of an
employment consultancy, is based on value for money that meets the
needs of care leavers in their need for employment and educational
support and improve outcomes.
The employment service is a valuable resource of support for YAS
that can deliver on site support for care leavers to receive
specialist employment and careers support at a cost that is value
for money.
Drive Forward Foundation can provide flexibility that is responsive
to service needs.
Drive Forward Foundation have an existing relationship with the DWP
in providing this employment support and an existing relationship
with care leavers.
The provision will continue to deliver a much-needed service
through DWP grant funding.
Alternative options considered:
The option to tender was considered but would
not have been a cost-effective exercise or productive use of
officer time as employment consultancy with care leavers is a niche
market and is based on the demands of care leavers requiring this
type of support.
An alternative option is to provide this level of support through
the employment of a full-time worker in-house within YAS at a
substantial cost to the service incurring both ongoing costs which
would not be financially viable for the service.
Another alternative option is do nothing. This would mean the
council cannot continue supporting the cohorts of young care
leavers Drive Forward Foundation is engaging with.
Publication date: 04/11/2021
Date of decision: 20/10/2021
Accompanying Documents: