Agenda item

This report detailed the outcome of an open tender process and sought approval to award the Housing Related Support (HRS) contract for Women’s Complex Needs 24 Supported Accommodation Contract in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 9.07.1 (a) and 16.02.

The current contract would expire on 31 March 2024 and a procurement process had been undertaken to ensure that a new contract was in place to meet the Council’s requirements.

Subject to approval, the contract would be awarded for a period of three (3) years commencing 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027 at an annual cost of £253,000 (totalling £759,000 over 3 years), with an option to extend for a further period or periods of up to four (4) years. For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum contract length would be seven (7) years, if extended. The aggregated total cost of the contract will be £1,771,000 including the proposed extension period.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1. That the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning, pursuant to Contract Standing Order (CSO) 16.02 and 9.07.1a) and d) grant approval for the award of contract for the Provision of Women’s Complex Needs 24 hour supported accommodation service for women to the bidder identified in Appendix 1 – Part B of the report.

2. That the contract be awarded for a period of 3 years from 1 April 2024 at a cost of £759,000 with provision to extend for further period or periods for up to 4 years with a total value of £1,771,000.

Reasons for decision

The Women’s Complex Needs service was currently being delivered and the contract would end on 31 March 2024. The service was part of a recent tender exercise as part of the recommissioning of the Single Homeless Pathway. The recommended bidder demonstrated their expertise and experience in providing the services required, and to meeting the service outcomes as specified. They were able to demonstrate a strong track record of delivering services for women with multiple and complex needs.

There was clearly evidenced demand for services that support women around the wide-ranging needs and circumstances that contribute to, and cause, homelessness. Dedicated and gender informed supported housing services provide a flexible and person-centred approach to women experiencing multiple disadvantages by helping maintain and establish sustainable housing, overcome health, and gender inequalities, and recover from other experiences that contributed to their homelessness.

The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) places new duties on local authorities to provide ‘safe accommodation’ and support to victims of domestic abuse. The service would aid the Council to fulfil these duties as well as the commitment to deliver early intervention to women in crisis who are experiencing multiple and complex needs, preventing homelessness and escalation in need.

The service would also contribute to delivery of the Council’s Delivery Plan (2023- 2024) objectives and will play an integral role in the delivery of Haringey’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategies, by supporting single adults with support needs to secure positive housing, health, and community outcomes.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: There was only a statutory requirement to provide housing for single homeless people where they were identified as vulnerable and in priority need under Section 189 of the Housing Act (1996 amended 2002). However, Haringey like all London boroughs recognised the human, social and economic costs associated with homelessness and the need to ensure that people were adequately supported to recover from it and prevent future instances. Therefore, it was not deemed in the best interests of homeless women or the Council to cease the current contracts for the provision of supported housing services.

Extend existing contracts: The extension periods available within the existing contract had been exhausted, and no further extensions were possible.

Deliver the services in house: Extensive consideration was given to the possibility of in-house delivery for this service. However, on reviewing the options available, insourcing was deemed to be unsuitable due to the time constraints. The successful bidder had an extensive track record in delivering these services and have established relationship with the Landlord required to deliver the housing management for these properties.