Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide a range of services to assist parents and carers of Children and Young People with disabilities and complex needs in ensuring appropriate and effective provision for the Child or Young Person in their care. Where these needs impact significantly on daily life, it can be necessary to commission specialist support and care provision. These services are currently commissioned through the Supported Living and Family Support Services Framework (SLFSSF); this Framework expired on 31st July 2021.

In February 2021 the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People approved the commencement of a procurement process to establish a new Framework Agreement for Family and Community Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to replace the SLFSSF as the mechanism for sourcing these services, decision CYP02 (20/21) refers.  As part of the decision the Cabinet Member also delegated authority to the Executive Director Children, Young People and Learning to implement the Framework Agreement for the initial 4-year period and further extension periods as necessary.

A competitive procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 under the Light Touch Regime. The County Council is now in a position to award places on to the Framework to the successful Providers.

The Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning has:

(1)Approved the award of places on the West Sussex County Council Framework for Family and Community Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to providers that have met the criteria and standards required, listed in paragraph 2.1 of the report, for an initial period of 4 years commencing 5th September 2021.  There is an option to extend the Framework for a further 4 years should the delivery and performance of the Framework be satisfactory. 

None