Provision of A Young Persons Service

This advert sets out the requirements Bridgend County Borough Council (the Council) has for a range of housing related services for young people. These services will be delivered in line with three separate contracts (Lots) as detailed below: Lot 1 describes the requirements for provision of:-  Supported Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds Lot 2 describes the requirements for provision of:-  Supported Accommodation for 18 to 21 year olds  Step Down Accommodation for 18 to 21 year olds  Floating Support for 16 to 24 year olds Lot 3 describes the requirements for provision of:-  Mediation Service for 16 to 25 year olds  Advocacy Service for 16 to 25 year olds For clarity all providers will be able to bid for all three Lots being advertised at once, and will have the opportunity to win all three Lots.

However, Providers of all sizes are encouraged to bid for just one, or two Lots, if they so choose. In conjunction with the Council, all successful providers will be expected to work in partnership, with the aim of delivering high quality, consistent and seamless provision.

These Services will build upon existing provision, responding to the needs of and supporting service users, who are homeless / threatened with homelessness and have housing related support needs. Supported accommodation and other housing related support provision will provide help to vulnerable young people to develop or maintain the skills and confidence necessary to live as independently as possible.

Services will have housing, preventing / relieving homelessness and assisting people living in inappropriate institutional settings, at its core. Provision will help vulnerable people address problems, sometimes multiple problems, such as debt, employment, tenancy management, substance misuse, and mental health issues.

Provision will support the vision of the Welsh Government Housing Support Grant, “A Wales where nobody is homeless and everyone has a safe home where they can flourish and live a fulfilled, active and independent life”. Services will support the prevention and wellbeing agenda of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and the pending Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026, Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

These Services will also assist the Council in meeting the aims and objectives set out in the Council’s Homelessness Strategy 2022-2026, as well as the imminent 2026 – 2030 strategy and subsequent Action Plan. The current strategy highlights that homelessness is consistently increasing in the borough, including relating to young persons.

There is also an acknowledgment that increased accommodation units and models of support are necessary. The current homelessness strategy highlights the importance of offering a range of Services and accommodation options to meet the needs of all applicants, particularly those with complex support needs who have exhausted all options within traditional accommodation or not do not engage with traditional support methods.

Building on part of the existing service, provision will provide accommodation, with support available on site 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The Service will have the ultimate aim of relieving the homelessness of young people and intensively supporting vulnerable Service Users to develop the skills needed to move on and eventually live independently.

A minimum of 13 units of accommodation is required. Support must be person centred and aimed at supporting young people, working to individuals’ strengths and supporting them to achieve their aspirations.

The Service will be provided in a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE). Staff must have a comprehensive understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and adopt a trauma informed approach, recognising and responding to the impact of trauma.

Support will be holistic and respond to Service User needs, which in many circumstances will require effective multi-agency working. Support Staff will work with Service Users to develop skills, with the aim of improving the ability of Service Users to live independently and sustain independent accommodation.

The Provider will ensure there are strong links with local employment and education Services to avoid Service Users being NEET (not in education, employment or training). See tender pack for a more detailed specification and terms

Building on the existing service provision this Lot will provide supported accommodation for those aged 18 – 21, with varying support needs. A minimum of 23 units of accommodation are required, which will include provision for 1 emergency bed.

Bidders will be expected to submit their Staffing structures within the financial envelope, with consideration of the buildings utilised, but there is not a requirement that all 23 units have Staff on site 24/7, 365 days per year. The Service will have the ultimate aim of relieving the homelessness of young people and intensively supporting vulnerable Service Users to develop the skills needed to move on and eventually live independently.

Support must be person centred and aimed at supporting young people, working to individuals strengths and supporting them to achieve their aspirations. The Service will be provided in a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE).

Staff must have a comprehensive understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and adopt a trauma informed approach, recognising and responding to the impact of trauma. Support will be holistic and respond to Service User needs, which in many circumstances will require effective multi-agency working.

The Provider must ensure they deliver all Services with the five key components of a PIE at its core (the psychological framework; relationships; Staff support and training; evidence generating practice; and physical environment). Support Staff will work with Service Users to develop skills, with the aim of improving the ability of Service Users to live independently and sustain independent accommodation.

The Provider will ensure there are strong links with local employment and education services to avoid Service Users being NEET (not in education, employment or training). See tender pack and service specification for a full breakdown of requirements

The aim of this Service is to support vulnerable young people who are experiencing relationship issues with their parents, other relatives or carers with the view to, where safe, prevent homelessness or in the case of individuals who are already homeless facilitate the Service User home. Instead of having separate Mediation and Advocacy roles, it is envisaged that the service going forward will be more cohesive and support should be tailored to the young person requiring assistance.

A key part of the Service is to engage with young people at an early stage and so the Service will look to engage with young people and their families, ideally before a situation reaches crisis point so that homelessness can be prevented. In addition to early intervention, this Service will be required to work collaboratively across all younger people’s services, including the accommodation-based projects detailed in Lots 1 and 2 of this Services Specification to continue to try and rebuild relationships within the family home with the ultimate aim to return home where safe to do so.

It is imperative that there is seamless provision across all services detailed in all 3 Lots. The advocacy element of the role will provide an independent and confidential service, which includes information, advice, representation and support.

Young people will be enabled to express their wishes and feelings in relation to any choices that are presented to them. Part of the advocacy element will, where the young person requests it, include having separate discussions with young people and parents. Advocates will have a strong understanding of a young person’s rights concerning housing and homelessness and be able to navigate local processes for accessing provision.