1. Jonny Woodthorpe – Framework Lead Simon Bower – Contract Manager
South Central IFA Framework: Consortia working, contract monitoring and development opportunities from collaboration
Jonny Woodthorpe – Framework Lead
Simon Bower – Contract Manager

2. Framework Overview 14 Local Authorities 48 fostering providers
Contract period is
£300million estimated value
Four Lots
Standard Fostering
Parent & child
Disabled
Alternative to residential

3. Contract Management Hosted by Bournemouth Borough Council
(1 FTE - Contract Manager & 0.5 FTE – Project Officer)
Functions :
Performance monitoring
Accreditations (OFSTED, Insurance etc.)
Training
Mediation
Contract queries
Market development (Provider Forums, Sufficiency, MPS)
Evaluation

4. Key Features of Contract Function
Well resourced centralised function
Efficiencies across LAs & opening up opportunities for further integration
Confidence to IFAs
Genuine Partnership
Working with rather than doing to
Mediating role of Contract Manager
Independent evaluation (IPC)
IFAs can provide anonymous feedback
NAFP members of Project Board
IFA actively shaping ‘Lot 4’ provision

5. Simon Bower – South Central IFA Contract Manager

6. Project Partners Bournemouth Bracknell Forest Dorset Isle of Wight
Oxfordshire
Poole
Portsmouth
Reading
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Slough
Southampton
Surrey
West Berkshire
Wokingham

7. Contract Management High value contract
IPC report highlighted as an area for improvement
Quality and Provider engagement
A conduit between LA’s and IFA’s
Building better relationships
Working with new IFA
Working with new LA’s
Greater understanding of the market#
Avoid duplication

8. Service Specification Key message to LA’s and Partners
48 Providers
New providers can join annually
Prices fixed for 4 years
Mileage reduced from 280 – 250
Long Term now 9 months not 12
Types – General, Disabled Children, Parent & Child and Alternative to Residential
THERE ARE NO ENHANCED PLACEMENT TYPES
Additional Support – Optional
Referral Form
Outcomes
Agreements in writing with commissioners for anything that involves an additional cost
Notice in writing from the provider to the commissioner.
Service Specification Key message to LA’s and Partners

9. Referral Form Why this form? The same to be used by all purchasers
Local minor changes only
May be used for all IFA placements
Can be used for other placements
Outcomes
Risk Assessment is within the document
Referral Form

10. Key Features Clothing Contact
Notice Periods
Pocket Money & Savings
Toiletries and Cosmetics
Reservations
Respite
Schooling
Sibling Placement
Short/Long Term
Solo Placements
Transport
Key Features

11. Call Off

12. Monitoring and Reporting
Quarterly Monitoring
Annual Monitoring
KPI’s
Sufficiency Mapping
Regular IFA Thematic Contract Review Meetings
Annual Performance Assessment
Complaints and Disputes
Regular feedback encouraged
Reopening the Framework
Social Worker and IRO Feedback
Monitoring and Reporting

13. Working in Partnership

14. Commitment Contract Monitoring visits 6 monthly events
Annual performance reviews
Co-production of event themes
Opportunity to shape the work of the Contract Manager
Contract Manager to mediate disputes
Sharing intelligence
Feedback welcome
Evaluation of the framework externally commissioned
NAFP invited to participate in board meetings

15. Framework Annual Re-opening

16. Questions?

17. Discussion Points Block booking Cross Consortia
By carer or by provider?
At LA or Framework level?
Will it make matching more difficult?
Cross Consortia
Can we align our consortia? (e.g. Tender openings; Shared lots; KPIs?)
Can we align/merge contract monitoring functions?
Can/should we work towards larger consortia that allow for local difference?

18. Alternative to Residential