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: