Health and social work services

Tender description

The Council believes that there is a strong evidence base demonstrating that children and young people on average achieve better outcomes in a family environment. The Council recognises that to successfully transition and sustain young people in a family setting they need to be placed with the right carers, at the right time with intensive support and services. These will give the young person the best possible opportunity to their full potential, socially, emotionally, in their education and health. Therefore, the role of the proposed commissioned service is to work with 2 cohorts: Cohort A: Cheshire West and Chester Council's cohort of children and young people in currently in residential care; Cohort B: Children in foster care,who have experienced significant instability and are at imminent risk of entering residential care. The service is intended to provide a high-intensity foster care type intervention in order to facilitate children ‘stepping down’ into stable foster care. The role of the proposed commissioned service is to work with 2 cohorts: Cohort A: Cheshire West and Chester Council's cohort of children and young people in currently in residential care; Cohort B: Children in foster care,who have experienced significant instability and are at imminent risk of entering residential care. The service is intended to provide a high-intensity foster care type intervention in order to facilitate children ‘stepping down’ into stable foster care by delivering a person centred approach. The Council's research indicates that this type of intervention is typically delivered by a multi-disciplinary team which provide holistic support for the foster carer, family and child or young person. The provider would be expected to manage the end-to-end process of foster carer recruitment for the service, placement matching and support for the young person while in placement. The Council would wish to see regular updates as part of the performance management framework expectations. The Council does not have any existing preference regarding the intervention. The service must be delivered using a Social Impact Bond model. Halton Borough Council has agreed to be named as a joint commissioner for the Fostering Better Outcomes service. Halton's participation would be optional pending the outcomes generated by the service in the first year of operation. From April 2019, following an annual assessment of demand by Cheshire West and Chester Council, Halton BC would be allowed to use a maximum of two Fostering Better Outcomes placements per annum for children in its care. Halton BC will control which children are referred in to the service. The provider should be aware that there is no guarantee that Halton BC will use any of the placements.