Issue - meetings

(To receive a report by the Executive Director – Children’s Services which makes recommendations for the re-commissioning of a Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) for Children and Young People)

1.    That the re-commissioning of BOSS, via an open competitive tender process, to commence 1 September 2022 for three years initially, with an option to extend for up to two years to 31 August 2027, be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement, to take all decisions necessary to conduct the procurement process up to and including the award and entering into of the contract.

The Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement introduced a report which made recommendations for the re-commissioning of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) for children and young people from 1 September 2022.  Members were advised that this was a service which ran alongside the one in the previous item, had been very successful, and was highly regarded by schools.

The Head of Service – Strategic Children’s Commissioning, advised that this service formed part of the Inclusive Lincolnshire strategy and was currently provided by Family Action.  The Lincolnshire Schools Forum had agreed to use the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to fund the service.  The current service ran during term time only, and aimed to reduce the numbers of pupils at risk of exclusion.

The Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board presented the comments of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of this item at its meeting on 14 January 2022.  The Committee had raised concerns regarding the gender balance and the higher prevalence of males in Pupil Referral Units (PRU).  However, officers advised that while there were a higher number of referrals for boys, which also mirrored the national position, it was ensured that classes were gender balanced.

During discussion by the Executive, the following was noted:

·       A query was raised regarding performance and the number of young people who were continuing to be supported from the previous academic year.  Officers advised that there would always be an element of children whose behaviours would not appear until the summer term.

·       Members were supportive of the Council continuing this service, and commented that anything that kept young people in school was positive.

·       It was queried how success was measured for this service.  Officers advised that one way was to look at whether young people were subsequently excluded.  To access the service, children needed to have a historic support plan which would outline very clearly what the needs of that young person were.  The numbers of young people that came back into the service would also be monitored.  It was also highlighted that feedback was received directly from the service users and their families, and this data was captured.

·       It was noted that the service had only started a few years ago and so there were not cohorts of children who had left education and then gone on to university, but capturing this information was something which could be strengthened for the new service.

RESOLVED

1.    That the re-commissioning of BOSS, via an open competitive tender process, to commence 1 September 2022 for three years initially, with an option to extend for up to two years to 31 August 2027, be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement, to take all decisions necessary to conduct the procurement process up to and including the award and entering into of the contract.