Decision details

Proposed decision: Approve the approach to the future commissioning of external fostering placements.

How the decision relates to Corporate Objectives: The new commissioning arrangement will support the Council’s strategic objective of children and young people in Kent getting the best start in life.  The new arrangements will also link to the new Children and Young People’s Framework which has four key outcomes for children and young people in Kent:-

·   Grow up in safe families and communities

·   Have good physical, mental and emotional health

·   Learn and have opportunities to achieve throughout their lives

·   Make safe and positive decisions

The outcomes and indicators within the new Framework will inform future performance management requirements and will improve benchmarking and comparison between the Council’s in-house fostering service and the external market.

This matter is referred to in the Strategic Commissioning Business Plan 2016-17.

As Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, I:

a) APPROVE the approach to commissioning external fostering placements for children and young people aged 0–18 years; and

b) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to award the contract and implement the decision