Issue - meetings

Background:

This report requested the Cabinet’s agreement to award the contract for the  Medway and Kent Framework for Independent Fostering. The Framework was due to be awarded on21 March 2022 with a commencement date of 1 April 2022

The report explained that Medway Council already had a comprehensive in-house fostering service and was seeking to develop its capacity to meet complex needs. A wide range of training courses were being delivered, alongside support and practice groups for carers who wish to develop specialisms in areas such as adolescence, parent and child placements, therapeutic parenting, sibling groups and children with disabilities. However, there would always be a need for external provision when the needs of individual children could not be met by the in- house foster carers.

The report was accompanied by two Exempt Appendices. These set out financial analysis and recommendations relating to tenders submitted during the procurement process.

Reasons:

Procurement of the Medway and Kent Framework for Independent Fostering is essential to continuously ensure value for money through the placement process and to meet the Council’s statutory responsibility.