Supported Accommodation Services for Looked After Young People Aged 16-18 across Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council

Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) and Peterborough City Council (PCC) are jointly commissioning the provision of supported accommodation services for looked after young people aged 16 - 18 years, for whom each authority has a statutory responsibility.

The Councils are setting up an 'Open Framework' which will re-open at regular intervals. We expect the Open Framework to re-open annually, but it may open at other intervals at the discretion of the Councils. The Open Framework is for an initial period of three (3) years, with options to extend for three further periods of two (2) years and a period of one (1) year. Therefore the maximum contract period is ten (10) years (3+2+2+2+1).

Supported Accommodation is one of a number of options for looked after young people and care leavers. It is defined as the provision of semi-independent accommodation and support for those eligible or relevant 16-18 year olds who are ready to live semi-independently, with support, in preparation for transition to independence.

This service will be available to:

• Those looked after young people for whom Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have a statutory responsibility, aged 16 - 17 (including those entering care to prevent homelessness)
• A small number of care leavers up to the age of 19 who require, for a variety of reasons additional support post 18 as identified by a social work assessment, and agreed by the relevant resource panel. - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs)
• The Council has a statutory duty under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (thereafter "Section 20") to assess and provide accommodation and support to any child who requires it, irrespective of their immigration status, nationality or documentation, until they reach the age of 18.
• Young people aged 16-17 in the criminal justice system who are remanded into the care of the Local Authority (Remanded into Local Authority Accommodation [RILAA]). Where Young People do not have a stable address or their living circumstances appear to contribute to their offending, in such circumstances the court may require that alternative accommodation is sourced via the responsible local authority's Children's Services department. These Young People may also be subject to a range of conditions imposed by the court, which may include wearing an electronic tagging device. All such young people will have a comprehensive plan and risk assessment in place prior to being referred to service providers.