Contract

Provision of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) Services in Gwent

  • Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-003839

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0387a7

Published 6 February 2024, 11:08am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

Police Headquarters, Llantarnam Park Way

Cwmbran

NP44 3FW

Email

procurement@gwent.police.uk

Telephone

+44 1633838111

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL2 - East Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gwent.police.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0384

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Public order and safety


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Provision of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) Services in Gwent

Reference number

JCPS0328

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85320000 - Social services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Commissioner is leading the commissioning of the regional Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (“IDVA”) Services in the Gwent Police Force area on behalf of the Commissioning Partners which include the Commissioner, the five local authorities in Gwent and the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (“VAWDASV”) Commissioning Board (the “Commissioning Partners”).

IDVA’s were introduced in the Home Office 2005 Domestic Violence National Action Plan as a key area for service expansion, with a national commitment to IDVA posts in all Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (“SDVC”) and investment for posts and training from Westminster Government sources. The Home Office 2008 Tackling Violent Crime Plan identified domestic violence as a priority area with IDVA’s and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference’s (“MARAC’s”) core strategies in reducing domestic violence and improving the criminal justice response. This framework marked an approach to domestic violence through a crime lens, with a shift to focussing on serious violence and high-risk victims.

Wales has had a national Violence Against Women Strategy since 2010 (Right to be Safe Strategy), which was refreshed and updated in November 2016.

The Contractor shall provide a single IDVA Service across the Gwent Force area. The IDVAs shall work to address the safety of people at high risk of domestic abuse from intimate partners, ex-partners and family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Operating as the primary point of contact, IDVAs typically work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the risk, review options, and develop and implement plans to address their immediate safety, as well as longer-term solutions. Although the Service will not work directly with children under the age of 16, the IDVAs shall make referrals to safeguard children and adults at risk of harm and ensure appropriate signposting to specialist Services and following duty of report procedures to the relevant local authority when appropriate. The Service shall be inclusive and available for all clients affected by domestic abuse.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85310000 - Social work services
  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL2 - East Wales
  • UKL16 - Gwent Valleys
  • UKL21 - Monmouthshire and Newport

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The VAWDASV arena sits within a complex landscape in Wales, crossing both devolved and non-devolved jurisdictions. It is an area of work that ‘is everyone’s business from social services, health, and education through to the police. Responsibility and accountability therefore sit at many doors, guided and mandated by many legislative documents.

IDVA’s were introduced in the Home Office 2005 Domestic Violence National Action Plan as a key area for service expansion, with a national commitment to IDVA posts in all Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (“SDVC”) and investment for posts and training from Westminster government sources. The Home Office 2008 Tackling Violent Crime Plan identified domestic violence as a priority area with IDVA’s and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference’s (“MARAC’s”) core strategies in reducing domestic violence and improving the criminal justice response. This framework marked an approach to domestic violence through a crime lens, with a shift to focussing on serious violence and high-risk victims.

Wales has had a national Violence Against Women Strategy since 2010 (Right to be Safe Strategy), which was refreshed and updated in November 2016.

The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) (Wales) Act 2015 (the “2015 Act”) requires the public sector in Wales to work together in a consistent and cohesive way to improve the outcomes for individuals and their families subjected to VAWDASV. The 2015 Act places a duty on areas to prepare and publish joint local strategies for tackling VAWDASV.

The 2016 – 2021 National Strategy followed up on the 2015 Act to set out a renewed commitment to tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) in Wales, with a focus on prevention, protection and provision of support.

The Gwent VAWDASV Commissioning (previously Partnership) Board (the “Board”) was established in 2015 under the 2015 Act to provide governance and oversight of the regional strategy and strategic delivery plan for the region in respect to VAWDASV. Publication and monitoring of a regional strategy is a statutory requirement placed on Local Authorities and Local Health Boards under Section 5 of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

The Contractor shall provide a single IDVA Service across the Gwent Force area. The IDVAs shall work to address the safety of people at high risk of domestic abuse from intimate partners, ex-partners and family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Operating as the primary point of contact, IDVAs typically work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the risk, review options, and develop and implement plans to address their immediate safety, as well as longer-term solutions. Although the Service will not work directly with children under the age of 16, the IDVAs shall make referrals to safeguard children and adults at risk of harm and ensure appropriate signposting to specialist Services and following duty of report procedures to the relevant local authority when appropriate. The Service shall be inclusive and available for all clients affected by domestic abuse.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2022/S 000-033222


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

JCPS0328

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(WA Ref:138714)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom