Accommodation Based Support Services (16-17 year olds)

The purpose of the Services shall be to provide structured packages of support aimed at helping service users aged 16/17 to develop or sustain their independence and to access or sustain settled housing situations. The Services shall support service users to achieve or make progress towards the achievement of Service User (young person receiving the service) Outcomes as set out in this Schedule.

The Services shall be targeted at single 16/17 year olds on the edge of entering Local Authority Care, whose primary need is homelessness.

The service model applied in delivering the Services shall be supported housing. The Provider is encouraged to explore and develop innovative service models which maximise the capacity of service users to achieve positive support outcomes. The Provider shall liaise with the Council to agree any proposed changes to the service model ahead of implementation, and ensure compliance with the requirements of this Agreement.

The Service to be available 52 weeks a year, including accessibility evenings and weekends to an emergency on call service, with staff on site as a minimum from 10.00pm to 7.00am.

Tender documents are available via the Proactis e-tendering portal - https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com

Additional information: For avoidance of doubt, the Services is not aimed at delivering statutory Children's Services responsibilities or any statutory duty under housing or homeless legislation.

The duration of support packages will vary according to the needs of individual service users and the rate of the progress made by them towards the achievement of their agreed outcomes. There will be an emphasis on the service providing short term and focused support to either enable the service user to move on to independence with the necessary skills or through joint working with Families First Intensive Prevention Service enable the young person to be reunited with family and return home, subject to it being appropriate to do so.

The Provider shall work collaboratively with Children's Services and other key professionals, agencies and other services. There will be an expectation that the Provider will work with any statutory authority working with the Service User to assist in the delivery of any Statutory Service.

The Provider will ensure that there is provision available for up to two emergency placements at any one time. Of these two emergency placements the Provider will have at least one emergency bed available for the Council to access at any time without prejudice. If placed outside normal hours then an interview will be held as soon as possible the following working day.