This report seeks approval to continue to participate in the Government’s Refugee Resettlement Schemes and authority to award a contract for provision of case work support and integration support.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report proposing that the Council continue to participate in the Government’s Refugee Resettlement Schemes and seeking approval to award a contract for case work and integration support.  An Equality Impact Assessment was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report noted that the Council had been supporting the Government’s Resettlement programmes since 2016, initially by committing to offer homes and support to three families a year through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (renamed UK Resettlement Schemes [UKRS]) and, since September 2021, offering homes and support to families resettled through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.  To date the Council had resettled 10 families/55 individuals through the UKRS and 16 families through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.  For the UKRS the Council had contracted an expert case support provider to deliver the first 12 months intensive case and integration support that was required by the Home Office; the current provider was Reading Refugee Support Group and the contract ended on 30 November 2022.

The report proposed that the Council reaffirm its commitment to the UK Resettlement Schemes beyond 2021/22, with an offer to resettle an average of 2-3 families/2-3 houses (c.10 individuals) a year, subject to availability of appropriate housing, and that the Council contract an external provider to provide case and integration support to families arriving through Government resettlement schemes for the period 2022-2027.  This would include providing intensive support for the first 12 months for those arriving through resettlement schemes, and continuing support at a less intensive level beyond 12 months where families required it.

The report noted that the Homes for Ukraine scheme was not organised as a formal Resettlement Scheme, and that due to the uncertain duration of the scheme and the more general model of support through advice and referrals, it was not proposed to include the Homes for Ukraine support in this procurement.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Council continue to participate in the Government’s Refugee Resettlement Schemes with an offer to receive an average of 2-3 families a year from 2022;

(2)      That the Assistant Director for Corporate Improvement and Customer Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to award a 5-year contract from 1 December 2022, for provision of case work support and integration support to the value of £42,000 per annum, with a total value of £210,000.