Purpose

This report seeks approval to award the contract for London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) service. The key objective of the LAP is to provide support in a restorative and psychologically informed way to improve the outcomes for children delivered via a whole system approach involving parents, statutory services, third sector, the supplier and the children. This includes ensuring the safety of victims, children with the LAP and the wider community. The service will work with male children including those from black and mixed heritage backgrounds who are overrepresented in the youth custody figures.

On 12 September 2025, the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families approved the strategy for the LAP provision.  Approval is being sought from the Executive Director Children and Learning to award the contract in line with the contract standing orders.

Camden as the Lead Authority will be the only authority to enter into a contract with Centrepoint Soho. 8 London Boroughs, Hackney, Haringey, Enfield, Islington, Richmond, Kingston, Waltham Forest and Newham who have agreed to be partners will be able to place their children in the LAP provision by entering into a sealed Collaboration Agreement with Camden. This Agreement will set out the relationship between all parties.  Barnet, the host borough, will enter into a separate agreement with Camden to access the provision as they are less likely to place a child due its location but will play a key role in supporting the development of the LAP.

The provision will continue to be overseen by the London Accommodation and Resettlement Partnership.

On 18th November 2025 Centrepoint Soho submitted a bid which addressed the specification but also provided additional benefit such as an annual bursary for each child, working with families, has an accredited provider status for education and has included a psychologist role in their staffing model.  There were five other bid submissions, but Centrepoint Soho were the only supplier to meet the quality criteria threshold. 

The contract will commence on or around 1st July 2026 for an initial period of 36 months with the option to extend for a further 24 months at the sole discretion of the Council at a cost of £3,887,113.91 in aggregate. The start date of the contract has been delayed by 3 months to allow more time for the revised Collaboration Agreement to be agreed by all parties.

Decision

THAT the Executive Director Children and Learning agrees to award the contract for the London Accommodation Pathfinder service to Centrepoint Soho for a period of 60 months (including one contract extension of 24 months) for the sum of £777,423 per annum (£3,887,113.91 in aggregate including the contract extension).