Childrens & Social Services Commissioning

Dear Mr Miller,

FOI request: FOI-3357

Thank you for your request dated 27/01/2025

Your request will be answered by 24/02/2025

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

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Dear Mr Miller

Freedom of Information request:  FOI-3357

Thank you for your request dated 27 February 2025

Our response is as follows: 

1.      Could you outline your commissioning processes for providers of
accommodation and/or support for the following groups: Do you primarily
use spot purchasing, framework agreements, or block contracts for each of
these categories?

a)      Looked-after children in residential care – Spot Purchase

b)      Looked-after children in semi-independent placements – Spot
Purchase

c)      Care leavers –Spot Purchase

d)      Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) – Spot Purchase

2.      If you use framework agreements or block contracts for
accommodation and/or support for these groups, could you provide the
timelines for when these agreements are due to be re-tendered?  Not held

3.      Are there any pre-registration requirements for organisations
seeking to accommodate these groups on a spot-purchase basis?

All providers used by Greenwich must be Ofsted Registered where supporting
those under 18

Local Authority-Run Provisions

4.      Do you operate local authority-run provisions for the following
groups? If so, how many individuals are currently accommodated in these
facilities?

a)      Looked-after children in residential care – Yes. 6

b)      Looked-after children in semi-independent placements – No.

c)      Care leavers No

d)      UASC – UAS children might be accommodated in internal fostering or
residential provision but we do not run specific provision for this group.

5.      What is the distribution of placements for these groups across the
following categories?

a. Spot purchases – All spot purchase

b. Framework agreements

c. Block contracts

Placement and Cost Insights

6.      How many care leavers or UASC aged 16-17 years old are currently
accommodated in residential children’s homes? None

7.      Could you provide the most recent (or most typical) average weekly
costs for placing children or young adults in the following types of
provisions?  Please specify the fiscal year or time period these figures
relate to (e.g., 2022/23)

a)      Looked-after children aged under 16 in private residential
children’s homes – 

b)      Care leavers/UASC aged 16-17 in private residential children’s
homes - 

c)      Care leavers/UASC aged 16-17 in 24/7 supervised semi-independent
provision 

d)      Care leavers/UASC aged 18-24 in 24/7 supervised semi-independent
provision (please specify if this provision is not used) –

e)      Care leavers/UASC aged 18-24 in unsupervised semi-independent
provision (please include floating support costs) - 

 

The requested information at question 7a to 7e is exempt under section
43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (“the Act”), states:

“Information is exempt information if its disclosure under the Act would
or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interest of any person
(including the public authority holding it)”.

The Council negotiates fees with independent providers and fees are
dependent on a number of factors. If we place negotiated fees in the
public domain, it is highly probable that the council’s ability to
negotiate fair and reasonable fees with independent organisations in the
future will be adversely impacted upon. This is a very competitive market
and the council’s ability to participate competitively in this commercial
activity will be affected.

We have considered the public interest test in accordance with section 2
of the Act.

Public interest arguments in favour of disclosing the requested
information.

The Authority recognises the public interest in the scrutiny of how public
money is spent, maintaining openness and transparency within the public
sector and ensuring that potential companies are able to compete fairly.

Public interest arguments in favour of maintaining the exemption.

It is not in the public interest to disclose information which would be
likely to put the council at a commercial disadvantage in a very
competitive market.

Having considered the public interest test the Authority decision is
therefore to withhold the requested information.

Contacts and Referrals   -

8.      Could you provide the contact details for the relevant council
personnel for the following areas:

a)      Spot purchase commissioning, service provision, rates, and
referrals for residential children’s homes

b)      Spot purchase commissioning, service provision, rates, and
referrals for care leavers/UASC aged 16-17

c)      Spot purchase commissioning, service provision, rates, and
referrals for care leavers/UASC aged 18-24

d)      Framework agreements/block purchase commissioning for all
categories mentioned above

The contact for enquiries related to questions 8a to 8d  above is
[1][email address]

Supplier Details

9.      Could you share a list of current suppliers or providers under
framework agreements or block purchase contracts for accommodating the
following groups:

a)      Looked-after children in residential care – N/A

b)      Looked-after children in semi-independent placements – N/A

c)      Care leavers- N/A

d)      UASC – N/A

Additional Questions

10.     What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or outcome measures
used to evaluate the success of providers in meeting the needs of these
groups?

Outcome measures are in line with the individual needs and care plan for
the child.

11.     How does the council collaborate with providers to ensure
compliance with regulations and to improve the quality of care?

The council undertakes quality assurance activity and is a member of CCRAG
Children's Cross Regional Arrangements Group (CCRAG) | Hertfordshire
County Council.  The Council also offers to work with local providers to
improve quality of settings within the borough where they may be
supporting Greenwich children.

12.     Are there opportunities for providers to participate in
consultations or strategic planning for services related to looked-after
children, care leavers, and UASC?

Any market engagement activity will be publicised via the council’s
supplier portal and via the publication of notices in line with the
requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

13.     Does the council maintain or publish a market position statement
for children’s residential care and semi-independent living provisions? If
so, could this be shared?

The Council has a published Sufficiency Strategy: Looked after children
placement sufficiency and commissioning strategy | Royal Borough of
Greenwich

14.     Are there any upcoming changes in policies, funding allocations,
or strategic priorities that providers should be aware of?

Keeping children safe, helping families thrive

15.     What is your projected demand over the next 5-10 years for: Not
held

a)      Residential care for looked after children

b)      Semi-independent placements

c)      Support for care leavers and UASC?

16.     Are there specific geographic areas within the local authority
where demand for placements is higher or underserved?

Additional foster carers are required in Greenwich - Apply to be a foster
carer | Royal Borough of Greenwich

17.     What quality standards or compliance requirements must providers
meet to deliver services in these categories?

Ofsted regulates all social care provision therefore this information is
held by Ofsted.

18.     Do you offer any incentives, training, or support for new
providers entering the market? See response to question 16 for foster
care.

 Providers of Supported Accommodation and Children’s Homes should get in
touch with [2][email address]  for requests for further support.

19.     Are there particular challenges or gaps in service delivery that
the local authority is seeking to address? For example:

a)      Specialized care for children with complex needs Yes

b)      Placement capacity for UASC or care leavers No

20.     What is the approval process for rates and funding for providers,
and how are rates negotiated for spot purchases or framework agreements?

Each placement is negotiated individually, based on the needs of the child
and the care plan.

21.     Are there specific referral pathways or criteria for placing
children with private providers versus local authority-run facilities? No

22.     Does the council have upcoming strategies or priorities around
expanding or reshaping children’s residential care or semi-independent
offerings? How might new providers align with these strategies?

See response to question 13.

23.     Where do you currently see the highest demand or biggest gaps in
provision? Are there particular needs (e.g., therapeutic support,
higher-level behavioral needs) where the local authority struggles to find
placements?

For homes for adolescents with multiple complex needs and risks, including
behaviour that challenges and risk of criminal and/or sexual exploitation.

24.     Could you detail how referrals are typically made to providers
(e.g., is there a central brokerage team, direct contact by social
workers, or an online portal)? What steps should a new provider follow to
be added to referral lists?

All placement sourcing is carried out by our Personalised Commissioning
Team.

25.     How does the local authority monitor placements once a child or
young person is accommodated? What reporting or review mechanisms are in
place, and how frequently are providers expected to submit updates or
undergo audits?

Monitoring of child’s progress via their social worker. Monitoring of
compliance with contractual requirements by the Personalised Commissioning
Team.

26.     How are payments structured and processed? For instance, do you
operate on a weekly invoicing system, monthly, or do you prefer retainer
arrangements for block contracts? Are there any performance-related or
outcome-based payment elements? 

Discussions are undertaken on a case-by-case basis

27.     How do you involve children, young people, and their families in
the decision-making process for placement and care provision?

Child’s view forms part of the referral. Children have regular contact
with their social worker and their views form part of care planning. When
children are present in the home during a quality assurance visit, they
are given the opportunity to speak with the QA officer about their
experiences.

If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact me,
quoting the reference number above.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you can ask
for an Internal Review.  Internal review requests must be submitted within
two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original
request.  If you wish to do this, please contact us in writing, setting
out why you are dissatisfied.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. 
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
Internal Review procedure provided by the Council. You can contact the ICO
by emailing [3][email address], or by post at Customer Contact,
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: 27 January 2025 09:29
To: 'Mr Miller' <[FOI #1230221 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: FOI-3357: Freedom of Information request - Childrens & Social
Services Commissioning

Dear Mr Miller,

FOI request: FOI-3357

Thank you for your request dated 27/01/2025

Your request will be answered by 24/02/2025

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

show quoted sections