Supporting Stability and Sufficiency of children in care placements

Descriptions

Market engagement event

Derbyshire County Council has over 1000 children in care. Approximately 50% of these children in care are in placements sourced through external providers, within residential, fostering and supported accommodation.

This is an opportunity for OFSTED registered providers to support in the delivery of Good and Outstanding quality, stable and local placements to the Council's Children in Care.

The Council is committed to driving a dynamic, outcomes focused, child-centred placement market, which offers good value, quality and choice. The Council also aim to ensure that the right placement is found the first time, on time, every time and to deliver statutory duties. The Council is wanting to develop partnerships that will help the Council's Commissioners and Providers to address areas of sufficiency and establish a clear and strategic sense of direction for future provision within Derbyshire.

The Council would welcome responses from foster care providers, residential providers, and supported accommodation providers to work with the Council to find creative solutions for Derbyshire's Children in Care.

Engagement

Provider Engagement event The event will be held on Monday 16th March 2026 10am -12.30pm (commencing at 10.30am). The event will be held at Lea Green, Main Road, Lea, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5GJ The event is about Supporting Stability and Sufficiency of children in care placements. The event is only for providers who are OFSTED registered for Children within Derbyshire (and neighbouring areas). In order to be eligible to attend the event, OFSTED registrations must either be complete now and the service in place, or for the OFSTED registration to be completed by the tender return date (estimated November 2026) at the latest (as providers without this will not be eligible to apply for the contract). Please RSVP by 9th March 2026 to ellena.outram@derbyshire.gov.uk