Prior Information Notice - Domestic Violence Accommodation Based Service

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is issuing this PIN to engage with the market and determine interest in a future tender opportunity for a Domestic Violence Accommodation Based Service. We would like to approach the market to explore how you would meet the specifications and aspirations described below by completing a questionnaire and a value for money workbook to give an indicative costing for such a service. We would further like to explore how you would seek to innovate in the provision of this service and what different service models you might propose.

Please note that this PIN is not a call for competition and potential providers should be aware that further notices will be published regarding this tender. There will be no financial reimbursements for participation in this consultation.

The contract start date is 1 April 2024 and the estimated annual contract value will be £162,165.00 paid pro rata in monthly instalments for the financial year. The contract will be awarded for five years and will be subject to an extension of two further years, should the provider meet good performance levels in accordance with key performance indicators for the service and contract compliance.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Refuge Services is a 14-bed project located across the borough, which provides support and accommodation to 14 women and their dependent children who are fleeing Domestic Abuse. Oftentimes, residents who are referred to this service come from their own homes (rented accommodation or otherwise) and are in the pre-contemplative stage of their journey after being victims of Domestic Abuse.

Women and children that come to the service require immediate interventions to reassure their safety and provide them with time discover their strengths. We expect providers to make use of all the available space for children and professionals to engage with peer led activities that promote their social inclusion.

Please contact us directly to obtain a copy of the questionnaire and value for money workbook. We would also welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss this opportunity further. To arrange a meeting please get in touch via the email address below.

Additional information: Cohort for the service:

- Women of 18 years of age and over and their children who are at imminent risk due to Domestic Abuse.

- Women with complex histories and experience of trauma due to Domestic Abuse, mental and physical health, and a disrupted housing history.

The Contractor shall keep the below objectives at the heart of service delivery:

- To provide flexible and responsive crisis intervention to vulnerable women with a significant Domestic Abuse history, adapting to the changing needs of the cohort to improve health and wellbeing and social inclusion, provide stability and reduce the likelihood of possible homelessness.

- To develop a proactive service with budget consideration to purchase external services to provide in-reach support, such as therapeutic interventions, that are tailored to the specific needs of both women and their children on a long-term basis.

- To develop a psychologically informed environment that aids and does not hinder people's recovery, understanding what they may have experienced.

- To provide a strength based, trauma-informed, holistic, wrap around support that will;

o Enable women and children to develop their personal capability and resilience,

o Prevent residents from revolving around services and/or returning to the perpetrators.

o Recognise that each individual will require a personalised resettlement plan that will need to focus on innovative move on routes and are fast paced.

o Progress individuals towards increased independence and personal responsibility in a timely manner, and

o Prevent tenancy loss and/or other institutional care.

- Operate a trauma-informed model, looking at what skills the resident already has and working with them and their children to develop further towards independence. To ensure this model, providers will work on innovative support planning that works in a reflective and personalised way.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Refuge Services consists of 8 team members. - Service Manager x 1 FTE - Team Leader x 1 FTE - Support Workers x 4 FTE - Children & Family Worker (x 2 FTE)

The estimated annual contract value is £162,165.00. However, the funding of 1 Team Leader and 1 Children and Family Worker are covered by the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUCH) at this moment. If this funding is not continued the contract value will vary to approximately £195,994.00.