Decision details

To seek Cabinet Member approval for an extension to the contracts for the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Support Services and the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline at a cost of £0.243m. These extensions will maintain the enhanced capacity within the commissioned Domestic Abuse Services up until end March 2024, in order to meet continued high demand.

That the  Cabinet Member:

Approves an extension of the contracts for the Derbyshire Domestic

Abuse Support Service and the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline,

at a cost of £0.243m, to maintain enhanced capacity of the

commissioned Domestic Abuse Services up until the end of March

2024, to meet continued high demand.

To sustain current resources in order to meet the continued high level of demand for specialist domestic abuse services.

Option 1 - The additional capacity could be commissioned independently of the existing service.  This request for the extensions to existing contracts is to provide continuation funding for additional staff, adding extra capacity to existing successful provision.  Commissioning this additional capacity separately would mitigate against it continuing in the form that it does now.

Option 2 – The additional capacity within the commissioned services could not be extended.  This would result in reduced service provision and an increase in waiting times for vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and their families, which is not acceptable.

Option 3 -  Extending the additional capacity through increased funding.  This is the preferred option based upon the reasoning contained within this report.