Decision details

Short breaks enable children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to try new experiences, both with and away from their siblings and parent carers. Short breaks can also give parent carers a break from their caring role.

Currently short breaks services are provided through contracts tendered via a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which will expire on 31st March 2023.  This report seeks approval for the commencement of a procurement to ensure the provision of short breaks services continues from 1 April 2023. The proposed methodology for procurement and model for delivery will support flexibility, personalisation and value for money.

The Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills has approved:

(1)The commencement of a procurement process to establish a new framework agreement for commissioning short breaks to run for a period of four years commencing 1 April 2023, with an option to extend for a further 3 years as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report.

(2)The delegation of authority to the Director of Children, Young People and Learning to award places on the framework, and any subsequent award relating to these contracting arrangements, for the initial 4-year period and to extend the framework if required, subject to this being affordable with the limits of the planned budgets.

None