Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deptuy Chief Executive (People) which set out proposals for the commissioning of domestic abuse and sexual violence and abuse services.

A corresponding private report was also submitted to the meeting setting out the commercially confidential matters of the proposal.  (Minute 54 below refers.)

Domestic abuse is a manifestation of one person (or persons) exerting power and control over an intimate partner or other family member.  While the Home Office definition encompasses those over 16 years of age, it can feature in relationships between people as young as 13 or over 60; be perpetrated by children against their parents; and involve the wider family. Domestic abuse can take many forms including, but not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.  It also includes honour-based violence and forced marriage.

Sexual violence and abuse is sexual activity with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims without their consent. Often victims and perpetrators know each other and sexual abuse can also be a form of domestic violence, but sexual abuse can also involve people with no previous connection.

Coventry’s Domestic Abuse Strategy 2018 – 2023 was considered / approved by the Police and Crime Board, Health and Wellbeing Board, adults and children’s safeguarding boards and Scrutiny Co-Ordination Committee. It incorporates the city’s approach to addressing domestic abuse, including honour-based violence and forced marriage.

Coventry City Council commissions a range of services that aim to address domestic abuse and sexual violence and abuse by protecting and supporting victims and influencing the behaviour of offenders.  It was proposed that:

•  The domestic abuse service model and specification is revised and updated and services are commissioned in 3 Lots (a victim and children’s service for information, advice and community based support; a supported accommodation service; and a perpetrator service) over a period of 5 years with two 2-year options to extend. The local authority’s financial investment in these services will remain at existing levels, but the contract value will reduce by 3% to reflect the cessation of funding contributed by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

•  The sexual violence and abuse counselling service specification is revised and updated.  The service is recommissioned based on the existing budget over a period of 5 years with the option to extend to mirror the domestic abuse contracts. The model for this service will not change.

It is proposed that domestic abuse and sexual violence and abuse services are commissioned as separate entities but are procured concurrently.

In order to get best value from these services and enable successful bidders to establish strong and meaningful relationships among local partners, the contract will run for five years with two 24 month extensions available, giving a possible contract length of 9 years. It is proposed that the services are procured via competitive tender with contracts commencing 1 July 2019. The commissioning process for a longer term contract will seek to gain additional value from providers.

The proposal is based on the latest evidence about what works to improve quality and outcomes and what local Coventry people want from our services, following consultation with the general public, service users and wider stakeholders, engagement with the provider market and consultation with domestic abuse commissioners in the West Midlands and across the country.

The anticipated costs per annum of all contracts, which will be funded by the Council core funding and the Public Health grant, will be £1,347,955.

The Cabinet noted that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered the report at their meeting on 26^th September 2018 and supported the proposals.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1.  Approve the proposal to commission domestic abuse services and a sexual violence and abuse service and grant permission to issue a tender to procure in line with the proposed model and timescale.

2.  Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to award and implement the contracts for domestic abuse services and a sexual violence and abuse service.