Contact: Colin hardy. 07718 146800. [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought

a) That the Executive Member note the summary level commissioning strategy for Children in Care and for those on the edge of care and receive further reports as options for implementation are included in the Forward Plan

b) That the Executive Member agrees that consultation should commence with a view to considering the future of a residential care service.

2 Reason

2.1 These decisions support the following Hampshire County Council priorities:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all" - by providing better support to young people, their families and carers and working closely with schools to enhance family stability and continuity of care and education

"Maximising well-being" - by supporting young people in accessing education, training and employment and enhancing educational ambition

2.2 The decision supports all the Aims of the Children Act (Being Healthy; Staying Safe; Enjoying and Achieving; Making a positive contribution; Economic well-being) by providing services that focuses on the needs of individual young people, their families and carers to reduce the need for public care, to enhance educational ambition and to maximise the place of young people within local communities.

2 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 The proposed strategy is based upon reducing the level of purchased residential and foster care services in order to invest in increased support to families and schools to better support to those on the edge of care. The approach also supports children and young people in care by promoting stability of education and care placements and providing more choice of service with a focus on the most vulnerable.

3.2 Other options to release the necessary funds for investment have been considered and it has been concluded that the best advantage can be gained by changing the balance of purchased and provided services in order to reduce budget pressures and to create the necessary investment potential.

3 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

4.2 None

5 Reasons for the matter being dealt with, if urgent.

6.1 This is to avoid any delay in commencing consultation about the future of a residential care service.

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services