Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved, pursuant to Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 2.01(b), the commencement of a procurement process for the provision of HRS SACNP, as set out in Exempt Appendix 1, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders and procurement legislation.

2.    Approved a funding envelope of up to £8,373,666 for the initial contract term of four years, inclusive of a 4% inflationary increase. It was noted that the maximum aggregate value of the contracts could be up to £24,420,706 if all extension periods were exercised, with any extension beyond the initial term subject to separate approval in line with the Council’s governance and financial regulations.

3.    Approved that the service lots described in Exempt Appendix 1 formed the scope of the procurement, with contract durations and commencement dates as set out in the report.

4.    Approved the development of a Supported Exempt Accommodation (SEA) and Social Enterprise model, with the Council working in partnership with supported housing providers and the voluntary and community sector to explore opportunities to deliver lower?intensity, accommodation?based support.

Reasons for decision

There was an ongoing and evidenced need for specialist housing?related support for single adults with multiple and intersecting needs, as outlined elsewhere in the report. Existing provision played an important role in preventing homelessness, supporting safe discharge from hospital and other institutions, and enabling residents to stabilise and sustain independent living. Approval to commence procurement was therefore required to ensure continuity of services and sufficient capacity to meet current and emerging need.

The procurement of these services supported the Council in meeting its statutory duties. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 set out statutory prevention duties, requiring earlier intervention and partnership working across public authorities to prevent homelessness. Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 placed a joint duty on the Council and health bodies to provide appropriate aftercare for individuals discharged from mental health detention, supporting complex needs and reducing the risk of avoidable readmissions.

Commissioning sufficient supported accommodation enabled the Council to meet its statutory responsibilities in a planned and preventative way, reducing reliance on higher?cost Adult Social Care and Temporary Accommodation. Evidence indicated that this represented a more cost?effective approach, with Haringey’s pricing at the lower end of regional benchmarks. Approval of the proposed funding envelope therefore supported statutory delivery while achieving value for money.

A long?term block contract model supported service stability and continuity. Longer contract durations enabled providers to take a more strategic approach to delivery, invest in workforce development, and embed consistent practice. This approach also supported stronger relationships between residents and staff. Approval of the proposed service lots and contract structure enabled delivery of a consistent and cost?effective supported accommodation pathway.

The proposed transition of lower?level provision to a SEA and Social Enterprise model supported the development of a diverse and locally responsive offer, including specialist provision for groups requiring culturally competent support. The Council worked with partners to ensure  ...  view the full decision text for item 9

The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

It was explained that ending homelessness was central to the mission of the administration and that the aim was for everyone in the borough to have access to a home that was safe and suitable for their needs. It was stressed that this objective could only be achieved by placing people with lived experience of homelessness at the centre of the design and delivery of local homelessness services. Like many London boroughs, Haringey experienced the effects of a number of ongoing challenges, including housing pressures, rising living costs and low pay. These factors were compounded by reductions in public spending over successive years. It was explained by the Cabinet member that the reduction in public services was associated with increased levels of mental ill-health and homelessness both locally and nationally. More than one in ten people in Haringey had been diagnosed with depression, and almost 5,000 residents were recorded as having a serious mental illness, representing 1.4% of the borough's population and a rate higher than the London and national averages.

The Cabinet Member noted that, despite these challenges, Haringey's homelessness initiatives continued to deliver positive outcomes. The Council's street homelessness hub at Mulberry Junction worked alongside a network of voluntary sector organisations, contributing to progress in reducing rough sleeping. Housing-related supported accommodation formed part of the support available to residents seeking greater stability and independence. Alongside social housing, these services provided care and support for residents with complex needs, including mental health conditions. The Council sought to build on existing services and support more residents to live independently.

It was noted that the Council held contracts with specialist organisations to provide support services for people with complex needs, with these contracts due to be retendered from summer 2026. Plans were developed to change the way supported housing was provided for residents with lower-level needs by transitioning these contracts to supported exempt accommodation and a social enterprise model. This approach enabled a greater proportion of costs to be met through housing benefit funding from central government rather than council resources. It was intended to support investment in other housing and support services across the borough. As part of this commissioning process, the council committed to retaining specialist provision for LGBTQ+ communities and women, recognising that some residents had needs that were best met through dedicated services.

The Cabinet member for Housing stressed that there was a shared commitment to reducing homelessness. These services played an important role in supporting residents towards recovery, stability and independence, and efforts continued to strengthen provision for as many residents as possible.

Following questions from Councillors Twigg, Ward and Ali the following information was shared:

• It was explained that generalised provision didn’t always reach vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ and women effected by violence. It was explained that the Council was seeking to provide specific support for vulnerable groups as part of this provision. It was stressed that the Council commission "by and for" organisations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9