Provision of support in Safe Accommodation for Women with multiple vulnerabilities and complex needs escaping Domestic Abuse

Cornwall Council, as commissioner on behalf of the Safer Cornwall Partnership, currently provides support within safe accommodation to women who have experienced domestic abuse and who require additional support in relation to other multiple vulnerabilities and complex needs.

The key aim of the service is to increase the safety of individuals through the supplier’s provision of specialist safe accommodation and person-centred, trauma informed support services that empower the individuals to take control of their lives, understand their own and others’ behaviours and how they can support themselves. Support will be provided according to assessment of risk and need and delivered by trained and experienced workers with a high level of understanding of the specific needs.

This service must be delivered in a safe and protective environment through, dedicated buildings with shared or self-contained housing with communal areas that will enable peer support, at least one of which must be adapted for disability and provides wheelchair access. The services will also provide culturally sensitive related support and accommodation to women from ethnic minority backgrounds and consider referrals for transgender women or individuals that self-identify as non-binary, based on circumstances and appropriate risk assessment.

The supplier will provide a minimum of 12 units of furnished specialist safe accommodation, in Cornwall, meeting or exceeding the required specification. This includes appropriate security and 24 hour in person or on call tailored support for service users accommodated on a license agreement for an optimal 12 month stay; women aged 18 and above with co-existing needs that may include mental health, drug, alcohol, challenging behaviour and disabilities.

Tenders are invited by Cornwall Council from Providers with relevant experience and ability to demonstrate sufficient capacity within available budget funding envelope, for the Provision of support in Safe Accommodation for women with multiple vulnerabilities and Complex Needs escaping Domestic Abuse, for an initial four year period commencing April 2024, with an option for extending the contract by up to a further six years, in three year increments.

For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum available budget for this service is £264k for the first year and bidders exceeding this available budget will be deemed to be unsuitable.