Content

RESOLVED:
To award the
contract for Domestic Abuse Accommodation Based Support Services -
to Supplier A for both Lot 1 (a Culturally Specific Service) and
Lot 2 (a Generic Service) for a period of up to seven years (5+1+1)
commencing November 2024 at a maximum cost of
£2,390,259.50.
 
 
Reason(s) For
Decision
 
This report asks CPIC to approve the award of
contract for the delivery of Domestic Abuse Accommodation Based
Support services via two contract lots to Supplier A.  These contracts will deliver a culturally specific
service and a generic service aimed at supporting single women and
women with children who are fleeing domestic abuse.  These women are in need of a safe supportive
environment where they can receive short-term intensive
support.  The accommodation will be
available for the duration of the contract and successful bidders
will be required to enter into a management agreement with the
appropriate Landlords to deliver these support services.
 
This provision will support the
Council’s efforts to meet its statutory obligations with
regard to providing domestic abuse support services as required
under relevant Acts of Parliament.
 
Domestic abuse refuge services are needed in
Hackney as they form part of a wider national and local agenda to
safeguard women and girls.  Some of the
policies and procedures that specifically link to the provision of
safe accommodation are below.
 
The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) provides further
protections for those people who experience domestic abuse, as well
as strengthen measures to tackle perpetrators.  In addition to the new protections, it also places
a duty on local authorities in England to provide support to
victims of domestic abuse and their children in refuge
accommodation and other safe accommodation. 
 
The Care Act (2014) specifies that freedom
from abuse and neglect is a key aspect of a person’s
wellbeing, and local authorities have a duty to provide advice and
support to prevent the arising or worsening of care and support
needs arising from abuse.
 
The Housing Act (1996) / Homelessness Act 2002
& Housing Reduction Act (2017) specify that local authorities
have a duty to provide housing advice to anyone who is homeless or
threatened with homelessness - including those who are living in a
refuge - and gives priority need to households experiencing
domestic abuse needing secure suitable accommodation for those who
are unable to remain in the family home.
 
The Contract will deliver support for both
Culturally Specific Lot 1 and Generic Lot 2 to meet the local
need.
 
Alternative Options
(Considered and Rejected)
The following 5 options were appraised for the
future of the provision in the borough
 
· 
Option 1: Do nothing and allow existing Contract to end
· 
Option2: Recommission current providers directly through
negotiation
· 
Option 3: Open Market Re-Procurement
· 
Option 4: LBH delivery in-house
· 
Option 5: Joint Procurement with LB Haringey
 
Option 3 - Open Market Re-Procurement was the
preferred option and this was agreed by the Hackney Procurement
Board on 9th January 2024.
· 
The reasons for choosing this option are:
· 
Opportunity to specify the service clearly and hold organisations
to account
· 
Design a service that is co-produced and fit for purpose
· 
Align contracts to pan-London
arrangements
· 
Aligned services to wider VAWG objectives, including the DA Act
2021
· 
Potential to achieve additional savings and/or service enhancements
through a competitive process
· 
Confirm the service delivery price for the duration of the contract
(in the context of current inflationary pressures)
 
Option 1 - Do Nothing - was rejected as it
would mean no further investment in safe accommodation from the
Council which would be contrary to the duties on local authorities
set out in the DA Act 2021.
 
Option 2 - Recommission current providers
directly through negotiation - was not recommended as we would be
open to a legal challenge if we did not go through a compliant
procurement 
process in line with the Council’s Contract Standing
Orders and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015; and
 
Option 5 - Joint procurement with LB Haringey
- was considered but will not be taken forward due to differences
in respective commissioning arrangements making this option
unachievable.
 
Option 4 - LBH delivery in-house was
considered as an option; however, at present this is not a viable
option, as a viable market of providers with expertise in
advocating and supporting victims of domestic abuse exists with
many of the providers having years of knowledge and
experience.  Within the contract price
for this service, external providers can be more flexible to manage
any cost increases or changes in the market in an innovative and
cost effective way by utilising corporate partnerships, fundraising
to bring added value to the contract.
 
There is also a need to commission culturally
specific services which, because of the low volume and specific
expertise needed, are best delivered by specialist providers. As
well as the potential risk of losing properties that are used in
the delivery of refuge services in Hackney is also a reason not to
in-source.  The properties used by the
Domestic Abuse service are owned by Housing Association landlords
that are supportive of the current delivery model. When asked, they
confirmed that they would continue to make the properties available
to known providers of domestic abuse services (see Exempt Appendix
4 for more information).