Haringey Council has extended its contract with Disability Action Haringey (DAH) to continue providing direct payment peer support and personal care assistant services for another six months, from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026. The decision, made at a Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Thursday, 11 December 2025, aims to ensure uninterrupted support for a growing number of direct payment holders in the borough.

The contract extension, valued at £100,000, brings the total contract value to £596,000. The original contract was worth £496.5k, with the extension bringing the aggregated total value to £596,000. According to a report prepared for Councillor Das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing, Disability Action Haringey (DAH) has demonstrated a strong track record of meeting contractual outcomes since the initial two-year contract was awarded in April 2024.

The contract is being extended for six months to ensure continuity of service while allowing sufficient time for the council to consider findings from the ongoing strategic review of Haringey's Direct Payment Offer before re-tendering the contract. The six-month extension will also allow the council to complete a commissioning review of the model and future options, ensuring continuity of service for direct payment holders after September 30, 2026.

The report highlighted several key achievements between April 2024 and September 2025:

  • The number of direct payment holders increased from 600 to 730, representing 23.5% of community clients.
  • 275 new and existing referrals were supported, with 187 achieving outcomes linked to independence and wellbeing.
  • Disability Action Haringey (DAH) held 188 outreach sessions, 32 staff inductions, and 17 peer forums with over 100 attendees.
  • There are 60 active personal care assistants on the register, supported via drop-ins and training.
  • Service users reported 100% satisfaction for accessibility and quality, and no complaints were received.
  • Disability Action Haringey (DAH) secured external funding from Skills for Care and Big Lottery Fund to expand training and information, advice and guidance provision.

According to the report, clients have expressed high levels of satisfaction with the services provided. 100% of clients reported being better informed and confident in managing their DPs, the report stated. It also noted that 100% rated service quality as 'excellent' for accessibility and responsiveness, and that there have been zero complaints received since service inception.

The council's decision to extend the contract was also influenced by a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment, which identified areas for development, including inconsistent exercise of choice and challenges in market capacity to support self-directed care. The report claims that the peer-based model delivered by Disability Action Haringey (DAH) addresses these gaps directly, strengthening choice, control and market capacity.

The report argued that not extending the contract would disrupt existing and potential direct payment holders and risk the council failing to meet its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, the Care and Support (Direct Payment) Regulations 2014, and Section 117(2C) of the Mental Health Act 1983.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) will fully cover the peer support costs, with no changes proposed to the fund allocation for 2026/27.

The Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) found no legal obstacles to approving the recommendation, according to the report. The Public reports pack provides further details on the decision.