The Director of Children, Families & Education has decided to extend the contract dated 13th December 2021 between Wirral Borough Council and Active 8 Support Services Ltd for an initial period of 12 months.

The Council has a statutory duty, under the Children Act 1989, to provide Family Time between children and young people looked after by the Council and their families. Family Time enables a child to spend time with a parent/family member with a trained professional on hand to ensure it remains safe and in their best interest.

A contract for the provision of Family Time was entered into on 13 December 2021 with a contract term of 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2024 between the Council and Active 8 Support Services Ltd (the contractor). The initial 3-year term of the contract expires on 30th September 2024 with the option to extend by 12 months, plus a further 12 months subject to contract review.

The Council has served written notice on the contractor requiring that it continues to provide services under the same Contract terms and conditions for a further 12 months from the current contract expiry of 30th September 2024. The contractor has confirmed acceptance of this contract extension.

The total value of the 12-month contract extension is £350,000.

This contract extension will expire on 30th September 2025.

The only alternative option would be to allow the contract to expire by effluxion of time on 30th September 2024 and bring the full service in-house. However, this is not practical, would have a significant impact on safeguarding activities and multiple costing exercises have identified that bringing the service fully in house would be more costly than the current commissioned provision.