1. Can you please explain your commissioning processes for providers of accommodation
and/or support in respect to looked after children in residential care/looked after children in
semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc. Do you spot purchase, have framework
agreements or have block contracts in each of these categories?
Commissioning arrangements for 16+ supported accommodation
In August 2015 the Council entered into new contracts for Supported Accommodation for 16-21 year
olds.
The procurement exercise took place between February and August 2015, commissioners were
seeking providers that would deliver ‘Journeys of Support’ for homeless young people and those at
risk of homelessness. This model encapsulates the entire journey for the young person from initial
presentation to exit from the service as ‘a self-sufficient adult who is able to manage their own
tenancy’.
The 16+ Supported Accommodation is a Framework agreement, there are 3 providers delivering the
support to young people aged 16 -21. The contract commenced in August 2015 and is for a duration
of 5 years with the option to extend for a further 24 months. In addition to this, there is currently a
procurement exercise underway to commission high needs support placements for those that are
unable to be supported within the 16+ contracts.
Commissioning for Residential Care
NCC are a member of the regional East Midlands framework and have commissioned residential
placements via this contract since 2016.
The Authority also has a block contract for residential placements with 2 different providers, with
each provider supplying 12 beds each within in Nottinghamshire and this has been in operation since
2015.
There are also occasions when NCC would spot purchase a residential bed if the above options
cannot offer a suitable placement.
2. If you have framework agreements and/or block contracts for accommodation and/or support in
respect to looked after children in residential care/looked after children in semi-independent
placements/care leavers/uasc, please specify when each of these are due to be re-tendered.
Commissioning arrangements for 16+ supported accommodation
A decision will be made during 2019 to determine whether the contract is extended for the 2 years
the contract al ows for or whether the service wil be retendered.
Residential Care
The East Midlands Framework will be retendered in 2020.
The NCC block contract started in 2015 and will run for 7 years with an option to extend for a further
3 years.
3. Do organisations need to go through a pre-registration process to accommodate looked after
children in residential care/looked after children in semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc
on a spot purchase basis?
No providers would not go through a pre-registration process for spot purchased placements, but
for residential placements we would expect all homes to be registered with Ofsted.
4. Do you have local authority run provisions for looked after children in residential care/looked
after children in semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc? If so, how many of each category
are currently accommodated in these facilities?
The authority currently only has its own residential children’s
There are 3 EDB children’s home accommodating 11 young people, and 3 specialist disabled
children’s homes with 12 young people full time, there are also short breaks provision within these
homes.
5. Please specify the number of looked after children in residential care/looked after children in
semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc accommodated currently via:
a. spot purchase
Residential LAC 8
Supported accommodation LAC 15
b. framework agreements
There are 227 units of 16+ supported accommodation provided for the following groups
- 16/17 year olds that are homeless ‘Southwark Judgement’ young people
- LAC
- Care Leavers
- 18 – 21 year olds vulnerable homeless
Residential LAC 47
c. block contracts
Residential LAC 23
6. How many care leavers/uasc aged 16-17 years old and specified in the answer to question 4 are
are accommodated in residential children's homes?
We have no care leavers or UASC accommodated in a residential children’s home
7. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing a looked after child aged under 16 year in a
private residential children's home?
The average week bed cost is £3041.
8. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing a care leavers/uasc child aged 16-17 in a
private residential children's home?
N/A
9. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing a care leavers/uasc child aged 16-17 in a 24/7
supervised semi-independent provision? See response under Q.12
10. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing a care leavers/uasc child aged 16-17 in an
unsupervised semi-independent provision? Please include the cost of floating support. Please
advise if you do not place 16-17 year olds in an unsupervised semi-independent provision. See
response under Q.12
11. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing a care leavers/uasc aged 18-24 in a 24/7
supervised semi-independent provision? Please advise if you do not place 18-24 year olds in a
supervised semi-independent provision. See response under Q.12
12. What is the 2017/18 average weekly cost of placing care leavers/uasc 18-24 year olds in an
unsupervised semi-independent provision? Please include the cost of floating support.
In response to questions 9 – 12
There are 2 ‘journey rates’ payable to providers of 16+ Supported Accommodation. A standard
journey is £6750 and an enhanced journey is £13,500. A ‘journey’ commences at the point at which
the young person enters the 16+ supported accommodation provision and ends at the point he/she
moves out of the service into independence. This is a one off fixed payment regardless of the
duration of stay which may be up to or over 2 years. The journey fee is paid at the point of entry
into service, and incentivises the provider to move people on through the service into independence
and prevents blockages and services silting up as the provider is only able to draw down more
revenue at the point a new person enters the service. The commissioned service has a range of
types of accommodation. Each service has at least one ‘core’ provision (staffed 24 hours a day) and
a range of self contained or shared accommodation options within the community known as cluster
accommodation. The level of support provided is flexible and not fixed, support is tailored to the
individual so can increase or decrease depending on their needs. A pathway model has been
developed, in general young people start their journey in the core and then move into cluster
accommodation prior to moving on into independence. The providers are also required to provide
floating support to all young people that move on from the service into their own accommodation,
this is time limited and wil taper off as the young person becomes more independent. The cost of
this floating support is covered in the one off journey fee.
13. Who should be approached within the council to discuss spot purchase commissioning, service
provision, rates and referrals for accommodating looked after children in residential children's
homes? Who is the specific named point of contact? Ty Yousaf
14. Who should be approached within the council to discuss spot purchase commissioning, service
provision, rates and referrals for accommodating and/or supporting care leavers/uasc aged 16-17
years old? Who is the specific named point of contact? Beth Downing / Ty Yousaf
15. Who should be approached within the council to discuss spot purchase commissioning, service
provision, rates and referrals for accommodating and/or supporting care leavers/uasc aged 18-24
years old? Who is the specific named point of contact? Beth Downing
16. Who should be approached within the council to discuss framework agreement/block purchase
commissioning for accommodating looked after children in residential care/looked after children in
semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc? Who is the specific named point of contact? Beth
Downing / Ty Yousaf / Lynn Brammer
17. Please can you provide me with a list of all of your current suppliers signed up to framework
agreements/block purchase contracts for accommodating looked after children in residential
care/looked after children in semi-independent placements/care leavers/uasc?
16+ Supported Accommodation
There are 3 providers – Framework Housing Association, and NCHA in partnership with New Roots
Framework Agreement
Adventure Care Ltd
Altum Residential Care
Amberleigh Care Limited
Archways Care Ltd
Beacon Childcare Ltd
BetterCare Keys Ltd
Birtenshaw
Blue Mountain Homes Ltd
Bryn Melyn Care Ltd
Cambian Childcare Ltd
Capstone Care Provider Ltd
Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd
Care Today (Children's Services)
CareTech Community Services Ltd
Chartwell Care Services Ltd
Childhood First
Compass Community Ltd
Crystal Care Solutions
Dalepeak Ltd
Enabling Futures Ltd
Esland North Ltd
Family Care Associates Ltd
Five Rivers Child Care Ltd
Footsteps to Futures Ltd
Homes 2 Inspire Ltd
Grace Care
Halliwell Homes Limited
Hexagon Care Services
Hillcrest Childrens Services Ltd
Horizon Care & Education
Inspirations Leicestershire Ltd
Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited
Keys Education Ltd
Kisimul Group Ltd
Kites Childrens Services
Living Life (UK) Ltd t/a The Banyan Tree
Meadows Care Ltd
North Lakes Children's Services
Nottinghamshire YMCA
Options Group
Oracle Care
Pathway Care Solutions Group Ltd
Prestige Adolescent Care & Education Ltd
Priory Education Services
Progress Children's Services Ltd
Resolute Care LTD
ROC Northwest
Sandcastle Care Ltd
Searchlight Care Services Ltd
Senad Group: C4 = Aran Hal , Bladon House, Rowden House & Pegasus School - C3 = Alderwasley Hall
School
Stanfield Care Services Ltd
The Caldecott Foundation
The Place Young Peoples Company
Total Care Matters Ltd
Tree House Care Fostering Solutions Ltd
Unique Care Homes
Witherslack Group
Young Foundations
Block Contract
Homes 2 Inspire
Castle Care/Priory