Tenancy Sustainment Services for Women in Refuges

The London Borough of Bromley (“the Council”) is inviting tenders for the provision of Tenancy Sustainment services for women living in refuges who are fleeing domestic violence. The Service currently provides safe accommodation for approximately 60 women and children at any one time. There are a total of 37 units within 6 properties; all the properties are owned by local registered social landlords.

The service will range from providing support in 26 communal or first stage units to 11 spaces in self-contained or 2nd stage flats. The support will include assisting the service users to acquire new tenancies and move into their own accommodation, to avoid the risk of further significant harm, to live independently in the community and to maximise their employment potential.

The service is being commissioned by the Education, Care and Health Services Department on behalf of the Council’s Public Protection and Housing teams and it is expected that the successful provider will work with both teams as well as the Police, safeguarding adults teams, Safer Bromley Partnership and any other relevant organisation concerned with the safety of the service users.

It is anticipated that the Contract will commence 1st January 2016 (or at such date as directed by the Council) and will run for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for a further period of up to but not exceeding 2 years. The estimated value of the contract will be £106,000 per annum.

The contract falls into the Light Touch (Social and Other Specific Services – Section 7 – 74-76 PCR 2015) and will be placed in compliance with the arrangements identified in the regulations.

Additional information: The incidence of reports of Domestic Abuse continues to increase both in Bromley and nationally. The provision of support coupled with safe accommodation is one of the key means of assisting women and their families to re-build their lives. In Bromley there are 37 refuge spaces. The refuges are owned by 3 registered social landlords.

The Service will be for women moving into and living in refuges in Bromley. The Contractor will need to work closely in partnership with local and national services providing support to victims of domestic abuse.

The key element of this service is to provide timely short term support which enables the service users to gain the skills to manage independently and move back safely into the community as quickly as possible. The Contractor will signpost the service users to appropriate services already available within the community.