Published Delegated Executive Decisions

Decision ref

0036 2025/26

Decision date

28/08/2025

Portfolio

Children and Young People

Wards

All wards

Title

Award of Contracts to Manage 3 x Council Owned Children's Homes

Summary

To confirm the award of contracts to manage and operate 2 and 1 child children's homes in St Helens (WN4, WA10 and WA11), owned by St Helens Borough Council

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to confirm the award of contracts for: - the operation and management of 2 child home in WN4 - the operation and management of 2 child home in WA10 - the operation and management of 1 child home in WA11

Background

St Helens Council has undertaken a project to build the capacity in St Helens of Children's residential homes. The project aims to reduce reliance on the external market to meet needs, the average cost of placements has increased significantly over recent years. Three properties have been purchased by the council (WN4, WA10 and WA11) and refurbished to create additional placements to be operated by the market. A procurement exercise has been undertaken to invite and evaluate bids for the management and operation of these homes. Three tenders have now been completed and winning suppliers identified for each contract. The homes will add to the two home already owned by the Council (The Grove and Abbeyford Respite). The Council's published Placement Sufficiency Strategy outlines the demand for placements.

Conclusion

The recommendations is for contracts to be awarded to grow the council-owned children’s homes are part of the wider strategy in Children’s Services to manage demand with early intervention initiatives.

Risk Implications

In addition to the original Ofsted registration, a key risk is maintaining a minimum of a ‘good’ Ofsted rating given the complexity of the placements and the associated risks.

Measures to Redress Risk

The procurement process and service specification have been designed to identify bidders able to deliver the requirements, with a minimum score of '2' required for each qualitative response. The winning bidders passed all exclusion criteria and met the minimum score for each qualitative response.

Declarations Of Interest

Respondee	Interest
Jon Ridgeon	I am a friend of the Director of the company awarded the contract

Equality Impact Assessment

Download

More information

Please contact Judith Nalton on 07354163610