Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director – Operations and Partnerships

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Operations and Partnerships indicating that the Council was seeking to procure a fully Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) from 2025 for a minimum of 3 years. The service would provide holistic support to victims and families of domestic abuse, irrespective of protected characteristic or risk level. The service would provide therapeutic counselling to those who required it to build resilience and aid recovery from the long-term effects of domestic abuse. The service would address several of the priorities outlined in the action plan accompanying the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2023-2028.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 – Equality Impact Assessment

·       Appendix 2 – Financial and Commercially Sensitive Information

Decisions Made:

That

(1)      the Assistant Director - Communities be authorised to conduct a procurement exercise for a fully Integrated Domestic Abuse Service, with a view to entering a Contract/Contracts for a minimum period of 3 years, plus 2 optional years (1+1); and

(2)      the Assistant Director - Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Communities and Partnership Engagement, be granted delegated authority to award the Contract/Contracts resulting from the procurement and to award any extension thereof following a review of the original award.

Reasons for the Decisions:

The IDAS would provide holistic support to the victims and families of domestic abuse, irrespective of protected characteristic or risk level. The integrated service model would underpin the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2023-2028 and would address key priorities outlined within the action plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Consideration had been given as to how to secure the various elements of the contract, and it was intended that this approach aimed to commission a focused community offer to join up the system which was currently disjointed. Domestic abuse service provision in Sefton had evolved historically and it was important that each element worked effectively together to provide the best outcome for service users. The report proposed the procurement of a victim focused Integrated Community Domestic Abuse service that operated on a network approach through effective collaboration across the system.