Issue details

The recommissioning of Children and Family Centres as the starting point for the development of Family Hubs across Gloucestershire for children aged 0-19 years (up to 25 years where children have special educational needs or disabilities).

 

 

Pursuant to an Authorisation from: the Council’s Scheme of Delegation: GEN 1 (To enter into any contract for works and the supply of goods and services)

Following the conclusion of a competitive procurement process for the supply of Children & Family Centres that will begin the new Family Hubs model across Gloucestershire, and following consultation with Councillor Stephen Davies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years in accordance with the Cabinet decision on 23 February 2022:



Decision: To award a contract for the supply of Children & Family Centre services in the Gloucester and Forest of Dean locality (Lot 1) to Gloucestershire Gateway Trust. This will allow the delivery of these key services and for Gloucestershire County Council to focus on developing an agreed multi-agency vision and principles for Family Hubs, that is aligned with the wider transformation within children’s services and partner agencies.

Following the completion of the re tender the proposed contract for Lot 1 shall be for an initial period of 6.2 years and include an option to extend their terms for a further period of not more than 2 years. The contract will start on 1st February 2025 following a 6 months’ notice period on the current extension contract held by Barnardo's.

Decision type: Non-key

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 03/09/2024

Decision due: 24 Jul 2024 by Executive Director of Children's Services

Lead director: Ann James

Decisions

Documents

Background papers

  • Cabinet Decision January 2024 : Decision - The recommissioning of Children and Family Centres as the starting point for the development of Family Hubs: Contract award - Lots 2 & 3 Abandonment, re tender and contract modification - Lot 1  
  • Cabinet Decision February 2022 : Decision - The recommissioning of Children and Family Centres as the starting point for the development of Family Hubs across Gloucestershire for children aged 0-19 years (up to 25 years where children have special educational needs or disabilities)  
  • Cabinet paper July 2021: Decision - Variation of existing contracts for an extension to the existing services to Children and Family Centres  
  • Cabinet paper June 2016 : Reshaping Services for Families with Young Children  
  • The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days : The_best_start_for_life_a_vision_for_the_1_001_critical_days.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)  
  • Children and Young People’s Plan 2015-18: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/strategies-planspolicies/children-and-families/  
  • Home@theHeart – Sufficiency Strategy : Decision - Sufficiency Strategy for Children and Young People 2022-26 (gloucestershire.gov.uk)  
  • Children and Family Centres information and local offer : Local Offer - Search Results?|?Glosfamilies Directory  
  • Summary, executive summary, booklets and data dashboards for Children and Family Centres can be viewed upon request to the report author.  
  • Pre engagement undertaken with children and families (Nicholas Day Associates), with partners and key stakeholders and with youth support (DNA Youth Consultancy) have all been listed below and can all be viewed upon request to the report author: GCC – Report of Engagement on the Future of Children & Family Centres; ‘Locality finding, provision and gaps’ ; ‘DNA Gloucestershire Summer 2021’ ; ‘Children & Families pre-engagement survey November 2021’