Purpose

An extension of the contract
for Housing Related Support for Women and their Children at Risk of
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence from 30 April 2025 until 30
April 2026, at a cost of £194K.
 
This contract provides an
emergency and temporary accommodation-based service for women at
risk, or who have experienced DASV.
 
The original contract was
procured via the DPS framework (CCB Ref 2324-000023-E Hestia) and
commenced on 1 May 2020 and runs until 30 April 2025, at a total
cost of £875k.
 
The cost of this contract,
including the extension until 30 April 2026, will be
£1.03m.
 
In the period of this contract
extension this service will be re procured. This re procurement
aligns with a needs analysis of Supported Housing recently carried
out by Homeless Link, external consultants, and will contribute
directly to the delivery of Croydon’s Homelessness and Rough
Sleeping Strategy.
 
Recommendation: Approve a
contract extension until 30 April 2026, at an additional cost of
£194k.
 

Content

For the
reasons as detailed in the Part A report, the Corporate Director for Housing AGREED to: 
 
Approve an extension by way of
variation of the contract with Hestia Housing and Support for
Housing Related Support for Women and their Children at Risk of
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence at an additional cost of
£194k, for a maximum aggregated contract value of
£1.03m.  
 

Reasons for the decision

Service
Stability:  

Extending the current
contract will provide stability for service users whilst future
commissioning intentions are fully discussed and
explored.  

 
Fulfil the Statutory
requirement:  

The current contract
expires 30/4/25. There is a statutory requirement to ensure Croydon
residents have access to the services that are provided. Extending
the current contract will enable the council to continue to
contract with Hestia to fulfil the statutory
obligation. 

 
Undertake an options
appraisal: 

Extending the current
arrangements will enable sufficient time to undertake a full
options appraisal with regards to the future commissioning
intentions and then to undertake a tendering exercise. This service
is one of several being reviewed together with the aim of ensuring
care leavers are supported. 

 

Alternative options considered

 
Option
Summary 
 

Pros 

Cons 

Option 1 - 
Do nothing, - allow the
contract to expire and stop the service. 
(Not
Recommended) 

Saves costs of running the
service.  
 
Reduced Council management
input. 

Unable to fulfil statutory
duties required under The Homelessness Reduction Act
2017. 
 
Health and safety issues for
Croydon residents who are either homeless or at risk of
homelessness. 
 
 

Option 2 
Bring the service
in-house 
  
This option is (not
recommended). 
 

 

Since this is a supported
accommodation-based service, this option is neither realistic nor
practicable. 

Option 3
–  
Extend the existing
contract. 
 
(Recommended) 

The existing providers are
performing their contractual duties satisfactorily and in line with
our specification. 
 
Continuity of
service. 
 
Allow service to review its
delivery model  

The service has not been
re-procured to determine whether there are more market entrants, to
improve the service and demonstrate value for
money.