408 Developing a Family Hubs Model in Devon and Contract Award Arrangements
(An item to be considered by the Cabinet in accordance with the Cabinet ProcedureRules and Regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, no representations having been received to such consideration taking place under Regulation 5(5) thereof)
Report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Health and Wellbeing (Interim) & Deputy Director of Children’s Services and Head of Social Care (CS/23/14), attached.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED
(a) That recommendation (a) as outlined in the Report relating to the direct award of a new 12-month contract from the 1st of April 2024 be agreed, noting that the new contract would have a budget of c.£4.837m (including £1.5m from Public Health) and would focus on prevention and early intervention; on reducing inequalities; and on engaging with communities and helping to build, shape and strengthen local services that reflect and respond to local need;
(b) that the proposals that the new and developing Family Hubs model be funded as set out in the overarching strategy described in section 7, be endorsed; and
(c) that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools, be given delegated authority to negotiate and approve the details of the contract, delivery plan and conditions for the 12-month contract award being recommended.
Minutes:
(Councillors Aves, Biederman, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).
The Cabinet considered the Report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Health and Wellbeing (Interim) & Deputy Director of Children’s Services and Head of Social Care, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
The Report outlined the background of commissioning the delivery of Children Centre services, what the current contract to families delivered and proposals for a direction of travel towards a family hubs model in Devon.
The Cabinet noted that the proposals had been presented to a Standing Overview Group of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in September 2023 and the Report outlined the feedback received.
The Report further outlined the ambition of a family hub model, outlined in appendix 5.
Engagement activities to inform the commissioning approach summarised in sections 3 and 4 of the Report were outlined in section 5, with Appendix 3 summarising examples of engagement activities.
Cabinet noted that an impact assessment would be carried out on the equality considerations to inform service specification.
The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Deputy Director’s Report having been considered:
it was MOVED by Councillor Samuel, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and
RESOLVED
(a) That recommendation (a) as outlined in the Report relating to the direct award of a new 12-month contract from the 1st of April 2024 be agreed, noting that the new contract would have a budget of c.£4.837m (including £1.5m from Public Health) and would focus on prevention and early intervention; on reducing inequalities; and on engaging with communities and helping to build, shape and strengthen local services that reflect and respond to local need;
(b) that the proposals that the new and developing Family Hubs model be funded as set out in the overarching strategy described in section 7, be endorsed; and
(c) that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools, be given delegated authority to negotiate and approve the details of the contract, delivery plan and conditions for the 12-month contract award being recommended.