Covey Befriending Service - Funding/Contract Termination
| Title | Covey Befriending Service - Funding/Contract Termination |
|---|---|
| Council Resource | Social Work |
| Service Area | Performance and Support Services |
| Aims and Objectives | Budget cost pressures for Social Work Children and Family Services has resulted in the Resource adopting a Sustainability and Value Option Appraisal Screening Tool. The Sustainability and Value Option Appraisal approach is summarised as follows: 1 Benchmarking and Efficiencies 2 Service Redesign or Reduction with no/limited impact on outcomes 3 Service Redesign or Reduction with impact on outcomes 4 Legislative and Registration Requirements 5 Public Protection Community Volunteering Enabling Youth, COVEY, changed its name to Community Volunteering Enabling You Ltd in 2014. The organisation is a registered charity in Scotland (SC020754) and registered with Companies House (SC200094) Covey has provided befriending and mentoring services to children and young people living in South Lanarkshire since 1992. Its main administration base is situated at Regent House, High Patrick Street, Hamilton, and it also has a base situated at South Vennel, Lanark. Both office bases are provided “in kind” to the organisation. [http://www.coveybefriending.org.uk/] There is no legislative basis for Social Work Resource to provide “Befriending” which is the primary function of the Service. There are other service options available such a Family Support Hubs, Kinship Care Groups, and individual support to children needing our care and protection. This proposal seeks to end Covey Befriending Service – Funding/Contract Termination as there is no current contact and therefore make efficiencies of £153,000 per annum Procurement and legal service had identified this service as none contract spend. Further analysis was undertaken by the Quality Assurance and Commissioning Team, and a report drafted for the Head of Service under standing order 34. A number of meetings took place with the provider identifying those children supported by the service. Covey was also linked to the Education Framework for support services in schools. |
| Conclusion | The proposal is to cease funding Covey for the provision of befriending services. This is not a statutory requirement of Social Work Resources, Child and Family Services. A number of other services have developed within Schools in terms of community mental health and wellbeing, overarching mental health services for children and young people, family hubs, and kinship care groups. The proposal if agreed to cease funding will be planned over a three month period, child and family services will review of children supported by the service and ensure they are linked to appropriate supports and services. Covey Befriending Services is not a statutory requirement of social work resources. There is no contract in place with this provider. Child and Family Services are required to align to a number of budget challenges. Alternative Services are available, and Covey is an independent voluntary organisation with other charitable activities in place. |
| Contact Email address | equalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk |
| Area | Council Wide |