FALKIRK COUNCIL Public Social Partnership approach to commissioning – Foster Care

Why PSP ? Social Care Experience Impact on service users Specifying and delivering on outcomes Impact on the market place Cost of getting it wrong Other areas Use of the whole market – including the 3 rd sector, SMEs Impact on local economy and community Opportunities to innovate

PSP IN PRACTICE Example – Foster Care provision – Goals Better outcomes for children/young people Better outcomes and experience for foster carers Financial savings Better use of resources – matching needs to service provision Better and more meaningful contract management

PSP IN PRACTICE Example – Foster Care Provision Stage 1 – two initial meetings with existing providers – explaining the process and why consider it (Feb/Mar 2010) –Series of meetings to develop good practice model for service delivery (approx 2 months – April/May) –Series of meetings to agree mechanisms - how to operate (approx 3 months – June/July/Aug) –Prep for starting pilot – Sept

PSP IN PRACTICE Example – Foster Care provision Stage 2 – pilot start (October 2010) –Run pilot arrangement for 12mths –Review after each quarter – delivering on cost and quality objective and outcomes? Social Return on Investment –Review at end 12mths –Adapt as required and write specification for service to be competitively tendered (October 2011)

PSP IN PRACTICE Example – Foster Care provision Stage 3 – Carry out tender exercise with fully prepared 3 rd sector and private sector (Nov/Dec 2011) –Committee approval and contract award (Feb 2012) –Contract Mobilisation (Feb/March 2012) –Contract start April 2012

HOW? Agreed parameters of pilot: –Agencies used in past year invited to initial meeting –All could opt into the pilot –‘Givens’ agreed before meeting with agencies

GIVENS Council needs to save money Placements must be local to meet children’s needs and commitments in Children's Services Plan

IMPACT FOR PARTNERS Better informed commissioning – better outcomes Better informed and more balanced market place – providers Improved service specifications Better contract monitoring – measuring the things that matter Shared vision amongst all parties Reduced risk Simple Contract

Places within 30 mile radius (of Municipal Buildings) Single rate for core service Must deliver on GIRFEC and SHANARRI Must commit to work in partnership with Falkirk Council and all Framework providers to further develop Foster Care provision in this area Service Specification