Key Takeaways
- •The Cabinet approved the recommissioning of the Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor Service (FDASA) to ensure continuity from January 2027.
- •An urgent decision was taken due to the need for a three-month mobilisation period, with call-in excluded to avoid disruption to vulnerable families.
- •The service, originally a 2022 pilot, has expanded to one advisor in each Family Help Team across Cornwall.
- •Funding for the service will come from existing government grant linked to Families First reforms, within the approved budget.
- •The new contract will run until March 2029 with a break clause, and procurement will begin immediately to ensure no service interruption.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Read the full minutes for the official record.
The Cabinet meeting for the Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Schools began with no urgent decisions taken since the previous meeting, no declarations of interest, and no questions from the public. The main item for consideration was the recommissioning of the Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor Service (FDASA), which was due to expire on 31 December 2026. A new service was proposed to start on 1 January 2027.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Special Urgency procedure had been invoked. This was necessary because the new contract required a three-month mobilisation period, and any delay to procurement would risk disruption to support for vulnerable families. Approval for the urgent decision and exclusion from call-in had been obtained from the Chairman of the Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of the Council.
The FDASA was established as a pilot in 2022, following learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which recognised children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. The service had expanded from three advisors to one advisor in each Family Help Team across Cornwall. It provided specialist domestic abuse support, safety planning, and access to wider services, and had delivered positive outcomes including improved family engagement and enhanced workforce confidence.
Officers confirmed that the service would be funded through existing Government grant funding linked to the Families First reforms, already included in the Council’s approved budget. The proposed contract would run until March 2029 with a break clause for review. Members were assured that the procurement process would begin immediately, with the tender expected to conclude in September 2026, allowing a mobilisation period before the new contract start date and ensuring no interruption in service provision.
The Cabinet approved the recommendations to recommission the FDASA, approve the associated revenue funding, and delegate authority to procure and award the contract. The decision maintained a critical safeguarding service for children and families affected by domestic abuse.
Attendance
2 of 2 members present
Decisions
The council agreed to renew the domestic abuse support service for children and families, with a new contract starting on 1 January 2027 to avoid any gap when the current one ends on 31 December 2026.
Related meetings
Adjacent Individual Decision Day meetings:
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