Agenda item - Permission to Procure a Havering Short Breaks Open Framework

Report attached.

Report Title: Proposal to procure an Open Flexible Framework and interim arrangements for Havering’s Children’s with Disabilities Statutory Short Breaks.

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

Cabinet:

1. Agreed to procure a Havering Short Breaks open framework commencing on 01 October 2026 for a term of five-years at an estimated value to the Council of £13.136m, noting the price: quality evaluation ratio to be used of 30:70.

2. Agreed to extend the current two Havering Short Breaks contracts with Family Information Group (FIG) and Disablement Association of Barking & Dagenham (DABD) for six months from 01 April 2026 until 30 September 2026 to support the interim arrangements.

3. Agreed to extend the arrangements for provision of Short Breaks via Individual Placement Agreements (IPAs) with existing providers and if required with new providers until the commencement of the new Short Breaks’ framework on 30 September 2026.

4. Delegated authority to the Director of Starting Well to:

a. enter all arrangements and documentation necessary to give effect to 2 and 3 above

b. establish the Short Breaks Framework and award initial framework contracts; and open the framework and award framework contracts as required throughout the term of the framework.

c. set the fee for access to the Short Breaks Framework and enter into access agreements as required

5. Noted that call off contracts throughout the term of the framework will be awarded in line with the Council’s financial scheme of delegation

Report Title: Proposal to procure an Open Flexible Framework and interim arrangements for Havering’s Children’s with Disabilities Statutory Short Breaks.

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

Summary:

The children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) population in Havering continues to grow, with the largest groups being children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech, Language and Communication Needs. A comprehensive internal review and options appraisal of the Short Breaks offer for children and young people with SEND has been carried out to inform recommendation in this decision paper.

Aim of this report is to:

1. Establish a Short Breaks open framework from 01/10/2026 to 30/09/2031, extend existing provision for a period of 6 months pending go live of the new framework.

2. Delegate authority to the Director of Starting Well to make the decision to award and manage the Framework contract.

3. It is proposed the framework will be open to other North East London Commissioning Partnership boroughs (NEL CP). This is reflective of the general agreement for co-operation between NEL CP boroughs which will support economic of scale and improve partnership working.