Background
This report will be the fourth time the development of an RAA across Kent, Bexley and Medway has been discussed by CYPE Cabinet Committee. The Committee have previously been asked to ENDORSE in principle the proposal to enter formal dialogue with Medway Council and the London Borough of Bexley with a view to establishing a Regional Adoption Agency.
This report aims to build on the formal conversations that have been taking place between the 3 local authorities by presenting the business case for regionalisation.
In March 2016, the government announced changes to the delivery of adoption services setting a very clear direction that all local authorities’ adoption services must be delivered on a regionalised basis by 2020. Legislation is in place to direct local authorities who do not engage in this programme.
It is proposed that a new Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) is created through combining the adoption services for the three authorities of Kent, Bexley and Medway. These agencies wish to build on the success of their existing services to improve performance in meeting the needs of children who require permanence through adoption, by bringing together the best practice from each authority within the RAA.
In June 2019, the paper presented to CYPE Cabinet Committee proposed that Kent would be the lead authority and the host for the RAA in which staff would be TUPE transferred and budgets pooled under Kent as the lead authority. However, subsequent detailed discussions with the regional executive board and the Department for Education have led to a revised proposal and it is now proposed that Kent, Medway and Bexley will enter into a partnership arrangement with no one local authority hosting the others. One of the three local authorities will be required to a lead on certain aspects of business servicing and these will be agreed by the Executive Board, but they may not necessarily be the same one for all service delivery. All three local authorities are keen to ensure this is an equal partnership, each holding shared responsibility for its outcomes.
Proposed decision(s)
To develop a Regional Adoption Agency model in collaboration with London Borough of Bexley and Medway Council which will be established in line with the government programme.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: For Determination
Division affected: (All Division);
Decision due: Not before 12th Feb 2020 by Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Lead director: Sarah Hammond
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Sarah Skinner, Head of Adoption Service Phone number: 03000 415090 Email: sarah.skinner@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
There is a significant amount of consultation that is underway and planned on the RAA project. There are several workstreams operating to ensure that all the necessary planning and implementation work can take place between now and the go-live date. The full detail of the consultation plan is included in the business case but the workstream areas are as follows:
· Practice development & alignment
· HR
· IT
· Commissioning
· Finance
· Legal and governance
· Comms and engagement
· Adopter and adoptees voices
· Strategic and political engagement
Financial implications: The overall model of delivery will cost no more than the current cost of services collectively across the region. Each local authority will be asked to contribute no more than its current budget for delivering adoption services. Kent County Council’s 18-19 Adoption budget is £2,905,500. As mentioned above, Kent will contribute only their existing budget of £2,905,500 to the regional adoption agency. Financial modelling work is currently being undertaken to further analyse current budgets across the region however, the principal of no spend above current, agreed budgets will still apply. The RAA will aim to move from current spend to an activity led spending model by year 4 of implementation. The full business case will set out the phased approach to moving from current spend to activity led spend. The full details of the financial implications associated with the formation of the RAA are in the full business case.
Legal implications: The legal implications associated with joining the RAA will fall out of the partnership agreement and its inherent delegations. The partnership agreement will be formulated by February/March 2020 at which point, cabinet members will be provided with a clear summary of legal implications for consideration. The detail of the partnership agreement will be drafted by solicitors from across the three local authorities and agreed by the Executive Board.
Equalities implications: An equalities impact assessment will be completed prior to ‘go live’ it will be presented to CYPE cabinet committee for agreement with a report.