The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services provided Committee with an update on the work being undertaken by the Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru (4Cs) and their forward work programme

The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services explained that the 4Cs was originally formed by the 10 South East Wales Improvement Collaboration authorities, 4Cs was renamed and expanded in 2012 to include five Mid and West Wales authorities. She explained that the Children's Commissioning Consortium Cymru (4C's) was a partnership of authorities across Wales who worked together to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people to achieve value for money through working together collaboratively. She further added that a Board that included Heads of Childrens Services governs the 4Cs work programme.

The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services informed the Committee that as well as significant cost savings, benefits included improved management information, consistent and secure collaborative tools and processes across authorities to facilitate individual placement matching, contract award and contract monitoring, collaborative risk management, and quality assurance of providers; sustained reduction in prices; and an environment of partnership with the independent sector to commission new sustainable care models.

The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services stated that Participation and Co-Production with young people with care experience was well embedded in all 4Cs developmental work.  She added that Participation in the 4Cs Consortium presented collaborative opportunities for children’s social care within an acknowledged environment in which development and delivery of social care services was both complex and challenging. She added that over 91% of young people who responded to the 2014 Framework 360 Outcomes Survey felt their outcomes were being met by their placement most or all of the time.

The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services stated that significant progress had been made by the (4Cs) to improve the way local authorities commission looked after children (LAC) placement services.  She informed Members that in 2012 4C’s launched the first collaborative social care Frameworks in Wales for Fostering and Residential LAC placement services, BCBC staff were involved in the original, scoping, tendering and interview process.  The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services stated that year on year significant cost savings had been achieved as a result of the collaborative approach taken by 4Cs to placement commissioning.  She explained that £79 million per annum was spent on independent sector LAC placements by 4Cs authorities.  Over the life of the current Placement Frameworks projected savings are £6.18m in actual cost avoidance, with potential cost avoidance being estimated at £10.68m

A member stated that they were pleased to see that the Authority had improved a service that would now be far more efficient.  He asked for further clarification on how year on year cost savings were being achieved.  The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services confirmed that collaborative working had allowed stronger negotiations for placements.   She added that bespoke packages were put together to enable service users to move out of residential care and receive in house provisions.

The Cabinet Member Childrens Social Services and Equalities stated it was pleasing to see that an Independent assessment for providers was in place therefore it was satisfying to know that children would be provided with a good quality placement.  The Deputy Leader also added that he was reassured that the standard of placements would not be lowered and noted the quality assurance.

RESOLVED:               That the Cabinet Committee took note of the information contained within the report.