Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 10, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council – Record of Decision   I, Councillor Youd, Lead Member for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement Board, accept the recommendation of the Procurement Board and in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby:   ·     approve to go out to competition for a new Salford Supported Employment Service.   The Reasons are: As the general population of Salford has been increasing, the amount of people on the Learning Disability register has also risen. There is a significant gap in the rate of disabled and non-disabled people in employment. In addition,  the amount of people on the Autism register has also risen, with a significant rise in the demand for autism assessments.   In August 2022 the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) awarded the Council an initial £490,000 in grant funding to establish a new Supported Employment Service to provide 140 people with learning disabilities and autism with personalised support to overcome barriers which inhibit people with disabilities from working. Subsequently in April 2024, DWP awarded the Council a further £420,000 in grant funding to extend the service to support an additional 120 people in Salford.   Following a competitive tender process (and subsequent extension), The Growth Company, were awarded the contract to deliver this new Supported Employment Service for the period March 2023 to 31 March 2026.   The service has supported 261 residents and is on track to support 30% of these residents into employment.   Over the last six months, consultation has been undertaken with partners, stakeholders, current and former users of the service and local residents to consider options for the service (see below) beyond March 2026.   The report recommends a hybrid of options 2 and 3, namely a targeted rather than universal service, but one which will provide support to a wider group of individuals, namely residents with learning disabilities, autism and ADHD.   The report seeks approval to go out to competitive tender to appoint a specialist provider to deliver the newly re-designed supported employment service on a 2 year basis, from 1st June 2026, at a cost of £300,000. Support will be provided by experienced and qualified Job Coaches in accordance with the recommended 5 Stage Supported Employment Service Model. Each participant will be entitled to one to one personalised support (pre and in-work) for a minimum of 12 months, flexibly tailored to the individual’s primary needs.   It is proposed to go out to the market in November 2025 with a deadline for submissions of January 2026. Following assessment and moderation, approval to appoint a provider for the new service will be sought in April 2026, with a scheduled ‘go live’ service date of 1 June 2026.   Options considered and rejected were: ·     Option 1 – would not seek to explore a workable option to provide a supported employment service in Salford beyond current grant funded provision and the service would end in March 2026.   ·     Option 2 – would look to explore costed and workable options for a new ‘targeted’ supported employment service. Any new service would be co-produced with a range of stakeholders to ensure different perspectives are understood and a collective outcome is reached.   ·     Option 3 – would look to explore costed and workable options for a new ‘universal’ supported employment service. The service will take the same co-produced approach as option 2, but the focus will be on providing a broader service offer to benefit a wider cohort of individuals with autism and learning disabilities. Referrals pathways will include ASC and SEND, and referrals from wider partners and pathways, including self-referrals.   In terms of the preferred delivery vehicle, consideration was given to bring the service in-house. However, due to the nature of the service and the expertise required to provide specialist employment support, it was felt the skills and experience within the Council was not readily available. Also, the additional costs to deploy and/or recruit specialist staff on Council terms and conditions would increase the overall investment required to deliver the service.   Assessment of Risk: DWP funding for the service is time limited and ends in March 2026, and as such there is no further external funding available to support any additional individuals over this period, thus leaving a gap in service support for any new individuals until a new service is established and mobilised post March 2026 as outlined in this report.   In the meantime, during this final year (1 June 2025 to 31 March 2026), the service will remain in place and continue to provide wrap around support to those currently on programme until 31 March 2026.   The source of funding is: Skills and Work (core) funding.   Legal Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by The Shared Legal Service (Tony Hatton).   Financial Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by Luba Velychko Accountant, Place Directorate.   Procurement Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by Christine Flisk,  Procurement Team.   HR Advice obtained: N/A.   Climate Change Implications obtained: Yes – supplied by Mike Hemingway, Environment Policy Team.   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:   ·     LMB Report – Supported Employment Service – Proposed Service Re-design (May 2025). ·     Supported Employment Service – Stakeholder Consultations and Feedback (Sept 2025). ·     Supported Employment Service – Resident and Participant Focus Groups and Feedback- Docs A and B (Sept 2025). ·     Place DMT Report - Salford Supported Employment – New Service Commissioning Intentions (Oct 13 2025).  ·     CMT Report – Salford Supported Employment – New Service Commissioning Intentions (Oct 15 2025). ·     Adult DMG Report - Salford Supported Employment – New Service Commissioning Intentions (Oct 16h 2025). ·     LMB Report (Lead Member for Skills & Work and Business Support) – Salford Supported Employment – New Service Commissioning Intentions (Oct 22 2025). ·     LMB Report (Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health) – Salford Supported Employment – New Service Commissioning Intentions (Oct 29 2025).   Contact Officers: ·     Dave Timperley, Skills and Work Commissioning Manager: 0161 793 2533. ·     Alison Burnett, Head of Skills and Work: 0161 793 2535. ·     Nicola Griffiths, Commissioning Officer: 07811 609 400.   Please delete from the bullets below any which are not relevant: ·     The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract. ·     This matter is also subject to consideration by the Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health. The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract. ·     The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the decision is Growth and Prosperity                   .     Signed:   Cllr J Youd          Dated:    10 November 2025.              Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:   *         This decision was published on 11 November 2025 *         This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 18 November 2025 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.