Safe Accommodation for Victims & Survivors from Ethnic Communities

Tender description

In 2021, the new Domestic Abuse Act was enacted into law setting out new statutory duties for local authorities. The focus of the new duties is on the provision of safe accommodation and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and New Burdens funding was allocated to each authority to implement the new duties. To meet demand pressures and address gaps in the supply of safe accommodation, commissioners in Adult Social Care undertook a procurement exercise to deliver 30 new units of safe accommodation for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Of these units; 15 units for women with children, 7units for single women, 2 units for men (including men with children) and 6 units for people from the Black Minority Ethnic community. An EIA was conducted to evidence the need of the units. Approval for commissioning exercise of these services was approved at Cabinet in July 2022 (ASC/23/21). This report also established the need for additional units of safe accommodation both to meet the Council’s statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Homeless Reduction Act 2017, as well as unmet need for refuge places. The tender opportunity went live in October 2022 and invited bids from the market. There were no bids for 1 Lot (Lot 4), which was for 6 units of safe accommodation for people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. After liaison with the market we were informed some providers did not wish to bid due to the specialist nature of the service that would be required. One of our current specialist by and for providers, Amadudu, who we currently have a contract with for a refuge for the black and minority ethnic community did not bid as they were not aware at the time due to key management staff being absent due to illness. The Chair of the Board for Amadudu informed they would have bid for this Lot if aware at the time. Therefore it is proposed for a direct award of the contact for the 6 units of safe accommodation to Amadudu due to the specialist nature that the service requires. This will be for 12 months with option to extent for a further 12 months. Costs will be £85,925 per annum, which is within the budget allocated for these units. The provision of 6 new units of safe accommodation for victims and survivors of domestic abuse will provide, safe and specialist supported environments for people from the black and ethnic minority community who have been traumatised by abuse and need a safe space to heal with specialist support. These additional units will also support the council’s Bed and Breakfast Elimination Plan.