Decision details

Decision: To agree the appointment of a partner organisation for the Children’s 0-25 Unified Programme Implementation Phase.

Transforming Children’s Services will improve outcomes for vulnerable children. Additionally, efficiency savings will be realised as a result of reducing need for expensive specialist and institutionalising services. The development of a full business case for Implementation has been a key outcome from the previous Service Design Phase, with implementable savings of between £17.7m and £28.2m.

The programme has been a success to date, and has led to the identification and testing of opportunities to improve outcomes and deliver efficiency savings. Newton Europe has worked closely with the 0-25 Portfolio Board throughout and has demonstrated an ability to create and embed changes to policy and practice in an operational environment.

Due to the complexity of the business, the knowledge that Newton Europe has built up during the Programme, and their track record to date, it is proposed that KCC procure (single source) Newton Europe for the Implementation Phase, through the HTE framework.

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

1). to appoint Newton Europe to support the County Council in delivering the Implementation Phase;

2). to delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and the Corporate Director for Education & Young People’s Services, to enter into the necessary contracts, following initial confirmation of funding details and the satisfactory negotiation of detailed terms and conditions; and

3) that the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health & Wellbeing and the Corporate Director for Education & Young People’s Services, or other suitable delegated officers, undertake the necessary actions to implement this decision.