Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of the business case for the regionalisation of adoption services across Kent, Bexley and Medway. The business case set out in detail the principles of the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) and aimed to add clarity and assurance around budget, HR and governance and accountability.

The report noted that the Government had set a very clear direction that all local authorities’ adoption services must be delivered on a regionalised basis by 2020. The Kent, Bexley and Medway RAA was now formally proposing a partnership model that required no physical transfer of staff but operated under a robust governance structure. Work was underway to fully scope this and produce an associated governance framework involving the joint exercise of adoption functions underpinned by a partnership agreement.

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 9 January 2020 and its draft comments were set out in an addendum report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) would be completed once the business case and partnership agreement had been finalised and presented to Cabinet in the spring 2020.

Reasons:

Agreement of the business case will enable preparation of the partnership agreement which will be presented to the Cabinet in March 2020 and regionalisation within the timescale mandated by the Department for Education.