Issue details

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to encourage, enable and assist young people to participate in education and training, with a particular focus on young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and vulnerable young people. To understand and demonstrate the impact of funding and resources, there must be strong mechanisms in place for recording and reporting post-16 learning destinations of young people aged 16-19. 

Currently a service (known as “Connexions”) is offered as a jointly commissioned contract by the six boroughs of Greater Merseyside. This contract began in 2010 and is due to come to an end on 31 March 2014.

We need to have in place a new contract for a reconfigured service for April 2014 which reflects the statutory duty, maintaining a high level of service for young people and their families, whilst also recognising that the new contract will constitute a budget saving to the Council. We wish to procure the new contract as a stand alone borough.

A procurement process has begun and permission is needed for Chief Officers to appoint a winning tender.

It is proposed that the Commissioning process, delivered through Sefton’s e-portal tendering system, the Chest, will include the issue of a 3 year contract in the first instance, with an option for 5 years subject to satisfactory performance. Annual service reviews will be built into the contract with a contract break clause included at specific stages.