Decision details

The Amber service is an integral part of the Complex Lives outreach and case management team, supporting vulnerable women. This investment delivers impact in reducing demand pressures elsewhere in the system.

The current contract ends on 31 March 2020. In order to attract sufficient interest and competitive bids for the contract, the recommendation is that it is advertised for 2 years.

To agree to £150,000 for the funding of the Amber Project Sex Worker Support Service, for 2 years, from the Non-Recurrent Better Care Fund (BCF) Earmarked Reserve allocation to the Place Plan.

£75,000 to fund Year 1 (2020-2021), and £75,000 to underwrite funding for Year 2 (2021-2022); Year 2 funding is subject to the ongoing work to develop a jointly commissioned sustainable funding model for Complex Lives which should be ready for 2020.

Option 1 - Tender the Amber Project for one year. This was rejected as it would not attract sufficient interest/economies of scale/competitive bids.

Option 2 - Resource the service through re-direction of existing resources. This is not feasible at this stage, but a sustainable model for the Complex Lives model is being developed for the Complex Lives Alliance which should be finalised in 2020. This request for funding will align with the Complex Lives Phase 2 funding.