Agenda item

The Sufficiency Statement is a public document, distributed to independent foster agencies, residential children’s homes and independent and non-maintained special schools in order for them get gain a better understanding of the marketplace in Bath and North East Somerset.

The Commissioning Manager for Children’s Placements introduced this report to the Panel. He explained that Bath and North East Somerset Council are part of the South West Consortium for integrated commissioning, using Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) to tender for preferred provider lists.

He said that the consortium is made up of: Bath and North East Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, Swindon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset. He added that B&NES take a lead on the DPS’s for Independent Foster Agencies and Residential Children’s Homes.

He acknowledged that B&NES have had difficulties in placing children within the boundaries of the local authority, but do try to as much as possible.

He stated that the numbers of children in care were at an all-time high locally, regionally and nationally and that there has been a significant increase in placements / spend on Residential Children’s Homes and B&NES has seen increased placements with 16+ providers.

He informed the Panel that despite this, the team have delivered savings by scrutinising placement costs to ensure the correct fees are being requested and discounts are being received (£125,000 per year) and checking invoices individually for errors (£30,000 per year).

He stated that the B&NES requirements remain similar to previous years:

• Foster placements in Bath city and within a reasonable travelling distance of B&NES schools.
• Foster placements for children aged 14 – 17 year with challenging needs.
• Residential step down placements within B&NES.
• Residential children’s homes closer to B&NES who accommodate children with very challenging behaviour.
• Increased local market capacity for 16 - 25 accommodation and support.
• Appropriate placements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC).
• Solo/specialist foster and residential placements

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what the explanation was for the growth in numbers of children being taken into care and what more could the Council do at an earlier stage to support families before they get to this point.

The Corporate Director replied that the reasons for the increase were multiple and complex. He added that one factor was UASC and another was that on occasion large numbers of children from the same family had gone into care.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what we are doing to increase the numbers of foster parents in B&NES.

The Commissioning Manager for Children’s Placements said that in terms of retention of staff, the Council is mindful of not wanting to lose them to the independent market and offers training and support to its foster carers. He added that the Council is also able to offer free access to its Leisure Centres for children placed in foster care.

The Corporate Director added that a review of the allowances for carers has taken place to ensure they are uplifted appropriately. He said that B&NES is leading a regional project to look at in-house foster care sufficiency and that the project was owned by all of the region’s children’s service directors.

Councillor Paul May commented on the success of the Connecting Families work stream and said that discussions were taking place to continue with it beyond the current programme which was due to end in 2020.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel thanked the Commissioning Manager for Children’s Placements for his report and for the work that he and his team do.