Contact: Sandra McDine 01962 847228 [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

1.2 That the Executive Member for Children's Services approves the proposal to seek an exemption from the County Council Standing Orders on Contracts for the purchase of independent residential placements for children looked after by the Children & Families branch of the Children's Services Department.

2 Reason(s)

2.1 This supports aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy by:

2.1.1 Maximising life opportunities for children looked after by ensuring that the independent providers with whom they are placed are able to appropriately meet their needs.

2.1.2 Building strong and safe communities by working with providers to ensure that their services enable children and young people to become involved and develop strong links within their local community.

2.1.3 Improving services for children who are looked after by through joint work to monitor and improve the services of independent providers.

2.2 This also supports the five outcomes of `Every Child Matters' and of the Children Act 2004 by verifying that providers procedures and practices provide safe care for children, that their services meet the health needs of all young people placed with them, and that the educational provision or access to education is appropriate. The monitoring process also seeks to ensure that the children and young people have access to a range of activities and pursuits which encourages them to become a part of their local community, and enables them to plan for their futures. The monitoring process is developing to include feedback from young people and professionals to provide as wide a range of evidence as possible to verify these aims.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 As detailed in the attached report, a full tendering exercise was considered, but for the reasons identified this was not considered to be appropriate.

4 Conflict of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted.

4.1 None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 None

Approved by: Date:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

Executive Member for Children's Services