URL: https://westsussex.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2332

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning (Cllr Jacquie Russell)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: A ‘Sufficiency Duty’ is placed on Local Authorities under the Children’s Act 1989 (Section 22G). The Sufficiency Duty requires local authorities to ensure that there are sufficient homes within their geographical area to meet the needs of children and young people in care, and to take steps to develop residential provision to meet the needs of all children and young people in care locally as far as is possible.   The County Council has been working with providers from a range of sectors, including those already operating in residential care and semi-independent support settings, to identify options to increase provision in West Sussex.  A successful trial of a new ‘collaborative approach’ working with providers to deliver new residential provision over the past 12 months has resulted in 2 new children’s homes opening within West Sussex, and one further home, expected to open shortly, offering new places to live for children we care for (Decision - CYPLS18 (24/25) refers).   Building on this success, it is proposed to undertake a procurement process to establish a Framework of providers to deliver further new residential units, thereby increasing the range and number of available homes for our children in West Sussex.

Content: A ‘Sufficiency Duty’ is placed on Local Authorities under the Children’s Act 1989 (Section 22G). The Sufficiency Duty requires local authorities to ensure that there are sufficient homes within their geographical area to meet the needs of children and young people in care, and to take steps to develop residential provision to meet the needs of all children and young people in care locally as far as is possible.   The County Council has been working with providers from a range of sectors, including those already operating in residential care and semi-independent support settings, to identify options to increase provision in West Sussex.  A successful trial of a new ‘collaborative approach’ working with providers to deliver new residential provision over the past 12 months has resulted in 2 new children’s homes opening within West Sussex, and one further home, expected to open shortly, offering new places to live for children we care for (Decision - CYPLS18 (24/25) refers).   Building on this success, it is proposed to undertake a procurement process to establish a Framework of providers to deliver further new residential units, thereby increasing the range and number of available homes for our children in West Sussex. The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning has approved:- (1) The launch of a procurement process to enable the establishment of a Light Touch Regime Open Framework of providers to deliver additional residential places for children we care for.  (2)The delegation of authority to the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning to award places on the framework at the conclusion of the procurement process, in accordance with the evaluation and tender requirements described and within the financial parameters set out in this report to providers who meet the required criteria. This delegation is to include any subsequent awards relating to these contracting arrangements throughout the Framework duration and to extend the framework subject to satisfactory performance and delivery. The Framework is expected to commence in July 2026 to run for an initial period of 5 years, with the potential to extend for a further 5 years giving a maximum duration of 10 years. None declared.

Date of Decision: January 5, 2026