Decision - Foster Care Placements

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(i)             Granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to:

(1)  take all necessary steps to procure and award a hybrid framework agreement jointly with East Sussex County Council (ESCC), but led by ESCC, for the provision of foster care placements in the independent sector for an initial term of four (4) years commencing on 1 April 2023 with an option to extend for up to a further two (2) years and providing for the re-opening of the agreement to new applications on the second and fourth anniversary of the term commencement i.e. on 1 April 2025 and 1 April 2027, and

(2)  Procure and award call off contracts and individual placement agreements from the hybrid framework agreement outlined at (1) above.

(ii)            Agreed that an up-date be given to the CYPS committee in April 2024 and a report given in April 2025 on the performance of the hybrid framework agreement with ESCC for the provision of foster care placements in the independent sector.