Decision details

1. To jointly fund into a Gloucestershire county wide contract with P3 for the delivery of the “Rough Sleeper Outreach and Support Service” (RSOSS)for 2 years with a further 12 month extension period built in.  In addition, to amend the participation agreement with Gloucester City Council (described in paragraph 4) to ensure service delivery for Cheltenham Borough Council through the contract the City Council has procured with P3.

2. To note this service will replace the existing “Assertive Outreach Team” from 1st April 2022 and is procured through the countywide Community and Accommodation Based Support (CABS) framework.

3. To allocate an additional £10,000/year from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ annual Homelessness Prevention Grant to CBC’s current baseline budget of £22,000/year, noting that CBC’s contribution to the cost of this service will be £32,000/year for the period of the contract.

The Rough Sleepers Outreach and Support service (RSOSS) will replace the existing “Assertive Outreach Service”. The service will respond quickly to rough sleeping by identifying anyone who is rough sleeping in Gloucestershire, supporting those who are on the streets to access accommodation and other services which they need. It will also have a focus on preventing rough sleeping wherever possible by preventing individuals known to the service from losing accommodation once it is found.

In particular the service will:

-Respond to “Street Link” referrals and undertake proactive checking of known rough sleeping sites to identify and provide support to any individual sleeping on the streets.

-Respond to the individual welfare needs of known rough sleepers to safeguard them from harm wherever possible, and to draw in wider services where required.

-Support rough sleepers to access accommodation: including by providing advice and support in completing Homelessness Applications and/or identifying alternative sources of accommodation.

-Build relationships and provide support to long-term rough sleepers, with the ultimate objective of identifying solutions with those individuals which will enable them to engage with offers of accommodation and support.

The service is intended to be responsive: both to the needs of individuals currently on the streets, and in response to changes in the overall number of those entering the streets. It is our ambition that the downward trajectory of rough sleeping in Gloucestershire will enable this service to transition to focus increasingly on preventative activity over the lifetime of the contract.

Gloucester City Council are the host organisation for the countywide Housing Partnership Programme Team and a Participation Agreement setting out the arrangements by which Gloucester City act as lead contractor for the Partnership is in place.

Partners include Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, NHS Clinical Commissioning group and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire.

Procurement was carried out through an invitation to tender issued to the County Council’s Community and Accommodation Based Services (CABS) framework, which is available for use by all Gloucestershire local authorities and public agencies.

A total of five suppliers had an opportunity to respond to this tender having previously been accepted to the framework. A supplier workshop was held in September 2021 to enable potential suppliers to understand the requirement and provide feedback on the tender and service design.

P3 were the only supplier to submit a bid for this service. An evaluation panel including a representative from Cheltenham Borough Council and the wider Partnership has concluded that the bid that was submitted by P3 met requirements and has recommended that an award be made to that supplier.

The funding for this service comes from contributions from all partners including all six Gloucestershire District councils; the County Council; Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner; and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

As part of this it is proposed that Cheltenham Borough Council will commit £32,000/year for the countywide “Rough Sleeper Outreach and Support Service over the next two years, with a further 12 month extension built in.

The increase in funding reflects an uplift of the baseline budget to reflect the national average costs for similar services and to reflect general price increases since the last time this service was costed. This ensures that salary costs are in line with the market average which will help retain staff and strengthen services.

A tender process has been completed according to procurement regulations and P3 have been identified as the preferred bidder following evaluation and moderation.

Officers have consulted with Councillor Mike Collins – cabinet member for housing along with officers within the county-wide partnership (as listed above). All are supportive of the council’s decision to enter into a new Gloucestershire county wide contract with P3 for the delivery of the “Rough Sleeper Outreach and Support Service” (RSOSS)for 2 years with a further 12 month extension period built in.

Consultation was also carried out with the Housing Options Team at Cheltenham Borough Homes who perform the homelessness function on the Councils behalf.

The service specification was also prepared by a range of partners including a representative from Cheltenham Borough Council and was scrutinised and endorsed by the countywide Partnership’s Oversight Board that includes representation from all Partner organisations.

A supplier workshop was also held in September 2021 to enable potential suppliers to understand the requirement and provide feedback on the tender and service design and consultation has also been undertaken with finance regarding the additional funding required.

Consultation with the voluntary and faith groups as well as statutory providers including housing providers was also discussed at the Housing & Support Forum on the 1^st December 2021 where any concerns/ views regarding the re-commissioning of the service was able to be discussed.

Councillor Mike Collins – Cabinet Member Housing

Officers within county-wide partnership

Housing Options Team, CBH

Supplier workshop

Voluntary and faith groups and statutory providers including housing providers