Health and social work services

Tender description

The proposal is to create a new co-located service within Islington Council, with the Council. Also acting as the lead in terms of the procurement and contracting processes to enable the same service models to be set up within 12 other Greater London Local Authorities. Operating for a minimum period of three (3) years, the service will specifically target single individuals and childless couples at risk of homelessness — as part of enabling the Council to meet its responsibilities under the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act. The Single Homelessness Prevention Service (SHPS) is essentially an outcomes based, payment by results service to relieve and prevent homelessness for single and childless couples with moderate support needs. It will effectively provide a wraparound service — not just looking to address homelessness prevention, but also aiming to improve clients’ wider personal circumstances — ranging from mental health, employment, family relationships and access to support services. The service will benefit from funding secured through the Life Chances Fund. The Life Chances Fund is an 80 000 000 GBP fund made available through the Department of Culture, Media and Sport up to March 2025 to provide support and financial incentives for commissioners who are interested in commissioning services on an outcomes basis. A number of Greater London Local Authorities were supportive of the Expression of Interest and subsequent Full Application submitted by Bridges Fund Management — and an in-principle grant award offer of 4 700 000 GBP was made in October 2018. Islington were the named lead commissioner as part of this process. Payment of the grant and payment from Local Authorities will only be made based on the successful delivery of outcomes.