Commissioning of LAC Residential Placements Across the Footprint of North East London

Descriptions

The North East London Partnership, led by Havering Council have developed a sub-regional commissioning partnership consisting of 8 local authorities in order to obtain greater influence in market shaping. Through the su-bregional approach, we will improve the tendering process to agree block contracts with 1 or 2 providers to initially provide up to 35 residential placements locally. We will focus on quality in the residential setting by providing systemic practice and a career pathway into social work for residential staff. We will also create a central brokerage resource to improve efficiency of residential commissioning arrangements. Underpinning our programme is a model of 3-way co-production which utilises relationship-based approaches to collaborate with young people and the providers and co-create the offer within the residential provider. The programme will work in synergy to address problems and change the system conditions of residential commissioning. The aim is to achieve two key long-term outcomes: improved lived experience of young people in residential care and improved value for money for the sub-regional partnership. We would like to hear from providers with experience in delivering residential services for looked after children. One of the core principles of this project is to co-produce local residential provisions that provide high quality care for young people and value for money for the local authorities. Our aim is to match young people with this provision if the provision can provide the right support for their needs. We are taking a sub-regional approach to this project. Havering are leading a partnership which also includes: - Hackney, - Newham, - Tower Hamlets, - Redbridge, - Barking and Dagenham, - City of London and Waltham Forest. There is also a heavy focus on sustainability, both in terms of savings to the local authorities but also in how we develop a legacy of effective participation across the North East London subregion.