Torfaen Children and Family Services Market Position Statement
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Torfaen Children and Family Services Market Position Statement 2013-2018
Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
projections demonstrate a small decrease in the
population of those aged under 25. However, we
Key Messages are expecting demand for support for vulnerable
families with more complex or enduring needs to
Introduction continue over the next 5 years with the market
growing in terms of younger children and bigger
I am pleased to be able to share this Market
families, particularly in light of aspects such as
Position Statement, setting out the intention of
welfare reform.
Children & Family Services in Torfaen. I hope that
the Key Messages will increase understanding
of how we aim to provide the best services that Message 4
we can for vulnerable children and young people Where possible we try to support children and
in Torfaen. young people within their own family, but where
this is not possible we will always look to keep
them within Torfaen. As a result we have looked
to try to avoid making expensive out of county
residential placements where possible – this has
included the development of an in-county 24 hour
supported accommodation for young people aged
16-17 with high support needs. We will continue
Ruth Derrick to look to identify ways to avoid unnecessary and
Head of Children & Family Services expensive out of county placements.
Message 1 Message 5
Over recent years, Torfaen has seen increasing We work in, and will continue to develop, a
numbers of children requiring safeguarding collaborative approach to service delivery and
through having their names placed on the Child where possible look at the opportunities to
Protection Register or needing to be looked after work regionally. For example, Torfaen is part
by the Council. This has placed budget pressures of the Children’s Commissioning Consortium
across Children and Family Services. Cymru (4C’s), a partnership of authorities across
Wales who work together to improve outcomes
Message 2 for vulnerable children and young people and
We have recently created a Family Focus team achieve value for money through working
to deliver intervention, intensive engagement together collaboratively.
with families, prevention and early intervention
services. But it is recognised that we need to Message 6
provide more of these types of services to prevent We will continue to both encourage and work
family’s needs from escalating. in partnership with different agencies to deliver
services, building on the effective partnership
Message 3 approaches taken to deliver Torfaen’s MIST
We are not expecting big demographic changes (Multi-disciplinary Intervention Support Team)
in terms of the population of children and young service and Torfaen Young People’s Support
people in Torfaen over the next 15 years. Current Service (TYPSS).
2
Social care providers and organisations not currently active in Torfaen can find opportunit
your strengths and skills to benefit local people and develop your business.
Torfaen Children and Family
The local Services: Market
authority’s predictions Position
of future demandStatement
Our population of children and young people is expected to reduce slightly over the next 1
picture across Wales is slightly different, with the expectation that the population of childre
people will remain fairly static.
Torfaen Children and Young People Population
Projections up to 2030
Introduction 8,000
7,000
6,000
2012
5,000
2015
This market position statement is aimed at 4,000
2020
organisations working with vulnerable children, 3,000
2025
2,000
young people and their families and shows the 2030
1,000
kinds of services we are looking to support. We 0
would like this to be the beginning of a discussion 0-2 3-7 8-10 11-13 14-19 20-25
Source: Daffodil
about the future market for children, young Source: Daffodil
Families that receive family support services come from a range of different backgrounds
people and family services. We want to work with services are already succeeding in working with those that are the most vulnerable. Howe
Total
that we need Population
to do in that all Average
more to ensure Population
our services in and attractive to tho
are accessible
a wide range of providers, both internally and Torfaen aged
the most vulnerable 0-25
and who Wales aged 0 -25
most need our help.
externally and see real opportunities for services 2012 challenges
One of the biggest - 28,380 in Children and Family
2012 Services
- 43,368is the high number of look
to come together to minimise duplication and children which is approaching 300. Similarly Torfaen has seen an increasing number of ch
2016 - 27,340 2016 - 42,909
subject to child protection plans in recent years.
work in partnership to ensure that we support 2030 - 25,550 2030 - 43,572
entire families to make real and lasting changes.
We are committed to stimulating a diverse and The picture across Wales is slightly different, with
vibrant market where innovation and success are the expectation that the population of children and
encouraged and rewarded and poor practice is young people will remain fairly static.
actively discouraged.
Families that receive family support services come
Providers of children and family social care can from a range of different backgrounds and some
learn about our intentions as a purchaser of services are already succeeding in working with
services. Voluntary and community organisations those that are the most vulnerable. However, we
can learn about future opportunities and what know that we need to do more to ensure that all
would enable you to build on your knowledge our services are accessible and attractive to those
of local needs in order to develop new activities that are the most vulnerable and who most need
and services. People interested in local business our help.
development and social enterprise can read
about new opportunities in the market and tell
us what would help you to come into social care
markets and offer innovative services. Social care
providers and organisations not currently active
in Torfaen can find opportunities to use your
strengths and skills to benefit local people and
develop your business.
The local authority’s predictions of
future demand
Our population of children and young people is
expected to reduce slightly over the next 15 years.
3
Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
One of the biggest challenges in Children and
Family Services is the high number of looked
• Families First is a Welsh Government
after children which is approaching 300. Similarly
initiative which aims to implement
Torfaen has seen an increasing number of
a prevention and protection model
children subject to child protection plans in
providing a whole family approach to
recent years.
services. Families can be helped to build
on their own strengths reducing the
No. of Children Looked After
No. of Children Looked After need
No. to have
of Children statutory
on the interventi
Child Protection on.
Register
300
250
We anticipate that demand for support for
200 Torfaen
Number of LAC
Wales vulnerable families with more complex or enduring
150
Comparable needs will continue over the next 5 years with the
100 authorities
average market growing in terms of younger children and
50
bigger families. In addition to supporting families
0
with younger children, there will be a requirement
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
to focus resources on families with older children if
Year
we are to reduce the numbers of children entering
the care system. There is also increasing demand
Source: Welsh Government
Source: Welsh Government
elements such as respite, specialist foster carer
Source: Welsh Government
placements and appropriate accommodation.
No. of Children on the Child Protection Register
In addition to the
No. of Children on theincrease in demand
Child Protection Register for social care Families First is a Welsh Government
support there has been increased demand for Inmulti- recent years therewhich
initiative has been signifi
aims cant demand
to implement a
200
agency support for vulnerable families through for housingprevention
services fromand protection
young peoplemodel who providing
initiatives
150
such as Families First – there are a number of a whole family approach
are at risk of homelessness, are experiencing to services.
Number of Children
families in Torfaen with complex orTorfaen multiple problems, Families can be helped to build on their
Welsh LA homelessness, are leaving care or who have
all requiring
100 support from a range ofaverage health, education, own strengths reducing the need to have
social care, housing and other services. a history of offending behaviour. At the same
Comparable
statutory intervention.
50
authorities
average time, there are a number of challenges facing
We anticipate that demand for support for vulnerable youngfamilies with to
people trying more complex
establish their orown enduring needs
will continue
0 over the next 5 years with the market growing in such
independence, termsas aoflack
younger children
of educati onal and bigger
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
families. In addition to supporting families with younger children, there will be a
and training opportunities, high levels of requirement to focus
resources on families with older children if we are to reduce the numbers of children entering the care
unemployment and a lack of affordable housing;
system. There isYear also increasing demand elements such as respite, specialist foster carer placements
and appropriate accommodation. which will be further exacerbated by the proposed
Source: Welsh Government
ment Source: Welsh Government
welfare benefit reforms. As such, Torfaen’s Young
In recent years there has been significant demandPersons Accommodati
for housing services onfrom
Strategy
youngidenti fies 4 key
people who are at
In addition to the increase in demand for social
or socialrisk
careof homelessness,
Families First are experiencing
is increased
a Welsh Government homelessness,
priorities are
for leaving
achieving care
‘best or who
practice’ inhave
meeti ang history of
care support
offending there has
behaviour. been
At the same time,demand there are a number of challenges facing young people trying to
mand for multi- initiative which aims to implement a the housing needs of young people:
for multi -agency
establish their support for
own independence, vulnerable families
milies through prevention and protectionsuch model asproviding
a lack of educational and training opportunities, high levels
• Early intervention and prevention
through
of initi
unemployment ati ves such
and as
a Families
lack
re a number of a whole family approach to services. of First
affordable – there housing; which will be further exacerbated by the proposed
welfare benefit reforms. inAs such,with • An integrated approach to prevention at the
are a number
iple problems, of families
Families can be Torfaen
helped toTorfaen’s
complex
build on Young
their Persons Accommodation Strategy identifies 4 key
priorities
or multiplefor achieving all‘best practice’ point ofneeds
crisis of young people:
alth, education, problems,
own strengths requiring
reducing the in
support needmeeting
from to havethe housing
Early
a range intervention
of statutory
health, educati on,and
intervention. prevention
social care, housing • Support and stabilisation
andother An services.
integrated approach to prevention at the•point Move of crisis
on and resettlement
or vulnerable families
Supportwith andmore complex or enduring needs
stabilisation
the market growing Move in onterms of younger children and bigger
and resettlement
s with younger children, there will be a requirement to focus
Key
if we are to statistics:
reduce the numbers of children entering the care
elements such as were
94 children respite,on the Child Protection
specialist foster carer Register
placements at 31.3.2013
4 51 boys and 43 girls were registered under the following categories
12 children were adopted during 2012/13.
Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
The percentage of young people formerly looked after w
known to be in Education Training or Employment is 45
The local authority’s picture of the
current state of supply
The local
Rate of socialauthority’s picture
care clients aged of1,000
0-17 per the current s
populati on
Rate of social care clients aged 0-17 per 1,000 population
80
60
Torfaen
40 Wales
Rate
Comparable
authorities
20
KEY STATISTICS 0
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
• 94 children were on the Child Protection
Year
Register at 31.3.2013
Source: Welsh Government
Source: Welsh Government
• 51 boys and 43 girls were registered under
the following categories Demand
health for socialand
services, carethe
services has increased
voluntary and community sect
work
signifithrough
cantly over ‘team around
the last the and
10 years family’
the approaches an
Neglect 37
order
rate oftosocial
reflect
care variations
clients agedin activity
0-17 peracross
1,000 the county.
Emotional abuse 51
population is significantly higher than is seen
Physical Abuse 4 The local
across authority
Wales. has the
As a result a Family Focus
authority has Team
had to that spec
addition there is also a Family Resource Team and
Sexual Abuse look at different ways of delivering services. All
community-based support services, including: self est
• 293 Children were looked after by Torfaen families
story in Torfaen
work; receive
individual support
direct workthrough high which lo
with children,
as at September 2013. These can be broken quality universal
courses; provisionand
assessments; suchpromoting
as schools and family activitie
down by age: health services. Vulnerable families can
also organised by Family Resource Centre staff and s receive
0-4 – 73
Young
supportCarers
throughServices
a diverseisrange
also ofbased at the Centre.
services
provided by the local authority, health services,
5-11 – 121 Both thevoluntary
Family and Focus and Family Resource
and the community sector. There is Teams
12-15 – 68 intervention, intensivemulti
evidence of increasing engagement
agency work with families, preve
through
16+ - 31 we recognise that we require more of these types o
‘team around the family’ approaches and social
family’s needs from increasing as well as a need t
• In 2012 the number of children in need in care teams have been restructured in order to
contact.
Torfaen was 995 reflect variations in activity across the county.
• 119 children and young people left the care There are examples of effective partnership working b
and voluntary
The local authoritysector
has aservices,
Family Focus for Team
example Torfaen’
system to return to live within their family
Team) service.
that specifi This service
cally delivers early helpworks with Looked afte
to avoid
during 2012/13
overcome significant adversity in
escalation. In addition there is also a Family their early years. T
• 12 children were adopted during 2012/13 greater
Resourceemotional well-being
Team and Centre. Theseandteams control
offer over thei
meaningful relationships, participate positively in the
• The percentage of young people formerly a wide range of community-based support
education and learning and live appropriately in ordina
looked after with who the authority is services, including: self esteem and confidence
Support Service (TYPSS) also continues to provide a m
in contact with that are known to be in building;inyouth
people groups;
Torfaen, notlife story
only work;
care individual
leavers. They provi
Education Training or Employment is 45% direct work with children, which looks
people experiencing difficulties in negotiating at their the transi
specific emotional needs; parenting courses;
5
Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
assessments; and promoting family activities achieve value for money through working together
within the community. Supervised contact is also collaboratively. In 2012 the 4C’s launched two
organised by Family Resource Centre staff and Frameworks, one for foster placement services
supervised by family support assistants and the and the other for residential placement services.
Young Carers Services is also based at the Centre. The Foster Placement Framework is an all-Wales
agreement and the Residential Framework is
Both the Family Focus and Family Resource Teams being implemented across 13 local authorities.
have delivered much needed ‘strength based’ These are outcomes based agreements between
intervention, intensive engagement with families, local authorities and independent sector
prevention and early intervention services. providers (private and third sector organisations).
However, we recognise that we require more of The Frameworks specify looked after children
these types of services both to meet need and placement requirements and the outcomes to be
to prevent family’s needs from increasing as well achieved for every looked after child. 4C’s have
as a need to meet the increasing demand for gone through a tender process to select the best
supervised contact. independent residential and foster placement
providers. Successful providers have evidenced
There are examples of effective partnership that they can provide placements which meet
working between local authority services, health the clear standards of care and the outcomes for
services and voluntary sector services, for example children and young people specified through the
Torfaen’s MIST (Multi-disciplinary Intervention Frameworks, and will be able to develop more local
Support Team) service. This service works with placements across Wales. The Frameworks will
Looked after Children aged 10-21 who are now be used for up to four years by participating
attempting to overcome significant adversity in authorities to provide for the placement needs of
their early years. The service aims to help young children and young people where local authority
people develop greater emotional well-being and foster or residential care is unavailable.
control over their behaviours such that they can
engage in meaningful relationships, participate Other collaborations that Torfaen CBC is involved
positively in the community, take advantage of with include:
opportunities in education and learning and live • Independent advocacy provision with
appropriately in ordinary independent living. Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent
Torfaen Young People’s Support Service (TYPSS)
• A South East Wales Adoption Service - a joint
also continues to provide a multi-agency support
service with Monmouthshire, Caerphilly,
service to a range of young people in Torfaen,
Newport and Blaenau Gwent
not only care leavers. They provide an integrated,
one-stop provision for young people experiencing • Youth Offending Service provided in
difficulties in negotiating the transition to collaboration with Monmouthshire
adulthood and independence. • Disabled Children’s Team co-located with
Newport in a health setting
There has also been a greater focus on joint
working and collaboration. Torfaen is part of the We have identified a number of areas to try to
Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru reduce costs, whilst meeting increasing demand.
(4C’s) which is a partnership of authorities across For example an invest to save project aimed at
Wales who work together to improve outcomes reducing the volume of high cost out of county
for vulnerable children and young people and placements and increasing the accommodation
6
Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
options for young people in Torfaen. This
led to the development and commissioning Torfaen LAC by Type of Placement -
of a 24 hour supported accommodation for September 2013
young people, aged 16-17, with high support
needs whose behaviour challenges others. A
supported accommodation unit has also been
opened that provides 4 young people with
accommodation for up to 2 years before they
access their own tenancies. Hales House Hostel
has been developed, which provides 24 hour
support and skills development to young people
who have become homeless in Torfaen and
cluster accommodation has been developed to
provide intermediate accommodation to young
people who are ready to move on from Hales
House, but still require more intensive support
than could be offered via floating supporting.
The chart shows the breakdown of Looked after
Children placements in Torfaen. It demonstrates
that the majority of looked after children are Placed for adoption with placement order (under
placed in county in either a foster placement section 21 of the 2002 Act) with current foster carer
with a relative or friend or with a local authority Placed for adoption with placement order (under
foster carer. We will continue to support the section 21 of the 2002 Act) not with current foster carer
placement of looked after children in county, Foster placement with a relative or friend
with relatives or friends and Torfaen Foster
Carers being used in the first instance. Placement with other Foster carer provided by LA
Placement with Foster carer through Agency in Torfaen
The diversity of the market can mean a lack
of clarity around service provision. We don’t
Out of County Foster Placement with a Relative/Friend
sufficiently distinguish between the skills and
approaches that are required to work with all Out of County Placement with other Foster Carer
families in universal services and those that through LA
are required to work with more vulnerable Out of County Placement with Foster Carer
families in targeted and specialist services. In through Agency
addition, services offered to families vary greatly Placed with own parents or person with
depending on which service is accessed first parental responsibility
and it is unclear in many services how effective Independent living e.g. in flat, lodgings, bedsit, B&B
or with friends with or without formal support
this service delivery is. Some services focus on
supporting the entire family, however many Residential Care Home
services support only one member of that family
Young Offender Institution or Prison
and some services are time limited.
All Residential Schools, except where Dual Reg
There is some evidence of effective practice,
however more work is required to ensure that
7Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
Children and Family Services works closely with of different service types
Families First in order to effectively identify the • Work with families for as long as it takes and
needs of families and facilitate the joint planning are targeted at specific populations or needs,
and delivery of services to vulnerable families taking a proactive approach
and that concerns around referral processes and • Are underpinned by a strong theoretical base
paperwork do not become a barrier to multi- and a well articulated theory of change
agency working. We need to improve how we
• Keep children and young people within their
share information about families across Children
homes and families wherever this is safe to
and Family Services and Adult’s Services and
do so
ensure that we take into account the history of
• Actively involve children and young people at
the family with a range of different services. We
all levels of planning and delivery
need to be sure that we have the skills to work
with families that are more challenging and we
Particular changes we will support and encourage
need to make sure that our workforce in universal
include:
and targeted services feels confident in working
with more vulnerable families and understands • An increase in the number and types of
when they should seek additional support. providers which are willing and able to
undertake a ‘lead professional’ or ‘key working’
role in supporting vulnerable families.
Identified models of practice the local • A greater focus on services that take a ‘whole
authority and its partners will encourage family’ approach, including those that are
primarily targeted towards adults
We have a commitment to supporting those • Services that are able to be flexible in meeting
that need us most but we recognise that early people’s needs in terms of times of delivery
intervention and prevention are vitally important and location – ensuring that the whole of the
to ensuring that problems are dealt with early Borough is covered at times and days that meet
and do not escalate. The solution for managing people’s needs.
demand for children and family social care relies • The implementation of programmes that have
on early intervention to identify and support a strong evidence base such as evidence
families in difficulty, by community based agencies based parenting programmes or those that can
and wider neighbourhood networks. We want to contribute to building the evidence base
prevent children and young people entering the • A greater emphasis on proportionate
care system (when appropriate) and we are keen to measurement and monitoring of the impact
support and commission services that: or outcomes of service delivery on family
• Take an assertive and persistent ‘whole wellbeing as opposed to monitoring of activity
family’ approach • A shift towards supporting services that can
• Are family centred and offer approaches that clearly articulate ‘value for money’
fit the assessed needs of families (as opposed • Supporting services which strengthen support
to a one size fits all) and are not reliant on for children, young people and families
single interventions affected by domestic abuse, substance misuse
• Work effectively with a range of partner and parental mental ill health
services by demonstrating a willingness and • Supporting services that are willing to work
ability to work collaboratively across a range outside traditional organisational boundaries
8Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
and restraints in order to work more effectively The budget for Children and Family Services in
with others 2013/14 is £12,797,781. The chart below shows
• A clear commitment to increasing the targeting how this is split between the teams across the
of resources to the most vulnerable populations service area:
• Open access, universal services that build
Children & Family Services Budget
resilience, prevent or reduce risk factors and 2013/14
identify families in need of additional support
at an early stage
The likely future level of resourcing
Like most local authorities, Torfaen County
Borough Council operates within the context of
reductions to public sector funding and increasing
demand pressures. The Welsh Government has
recently announced a four per cent cut in Torfaen’s
funding, as a result Torfaen as a local authority are
facing a funding gap of £11.2 million for 2014/15
(£3.1 million in Social Care & Housing) and a gap of
£40 million over the next four years. This is on top Court Processes Looked After Children
of savings of £33 million that have had to be made Disabled Children Care Management
over the last five years. Family Placement TYPSS
16+ Team Family Focus
The bulk of the savings identified come from Safeguarding Integration Children’s
Head of Children Services & Adoption
reductions to services, increases to fees and
and family services
charges, reduction in staffing and changes to
the way some services are delivered. In Children
and Family Services we expect the following
changes/developments:
• Commissioning on a regional basis
• Continued work with providers to reduce
costs/fees
• Rightsizing of packages of care
• Reduced residential placements
• Greater focus on early family intervention
• Reduction in independent work or therapy
for children in need, with a focus on
in-house provision
• Review Voluntary Service Contracts that are
less value for money (VFM) or minimal impact
for statutory responsibilities
9Torfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
Expenditure What we will Support
Despite funding reductions to local authorities We are more likely to support services that have
expenditure on Children and Family Services clear aims and objectives, use evidence informed
has continued to increase in Torfaen, due to the programmes to plan service delivery, target
significant demands put on the authority. Between resources and provide strong evidence of impact
2001 and 2011 expenditure in social care has and value for money.
doubled. The greatest increase was in Children and
Family teams where expenditure rose by 240% We are less likely to support services that do not
over this period. Over the last 10 years there has consider the whole family, do not explicitly target
also been an increasing trend across the whole those that are most vulnerable or cannot clearly
social care service area of purchasing services demonstrate how the service makes a difference to
those it works with.
rather than having our own provision.
These are difficult financial times and the local
Net Expenditure on Children and Family Services: authority will be funding fewer services. However,
we wish to use our funding to stimulate new forms
20,000 of care and support activity rather than wholly
fund service provision.
15,000
Torfaen
Future Opportunities Comparable
£000s
10,000 authorities
average
We will continue to use the two 4C’s Frameworks
5,000
for foster placement services and residential
0
placement services, where local carers are not
available, during the life of the Frameworks.
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
These Frameworks are due to run till 2015 with
Year an option to extend for a further year until 2016.
Source: Welsh Government Across Children and Family Services there are
Source: Welsh Government
contracts in place to support the delivery of a
Torfaen gross expenditure on children's and
Torfaen gross expenditure on children’s and family family services
number proportionately split between its own and
of services including:
other provision: Source: Welsh Government
services proportionately split between its own and • Provision of independent advocacy – due to
Torfaen
othergross expenditure on children's and family services
provision: endproportionately
September 2014, butbetween
split with an opti
its on
ownto and
other provision: extend for a further 2 years.
20,000 • Independent chairing of child protection
conferences, LAC conferences and Foster Carer
15,000
Comparative
authorities
Reviews – 3 year contracts awarded in 2014
average
with an option to extend for a further year.
£000s
10,000
Other gross
expenditure • Provision of transport for LAC – contract due
5,000 Own
Provision to end September 2015, but with an option to
0 extend for a further year.
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
• A specialist service which seeks to support
Source: Welsh Government
young people who present with particularly
Year
challenging behaviour, in an attempt to
Source: Welsh Government
What we will Support Source: Welsh Government maintain them in the community through
We are more likely to support services that have clear aims and objectives, use evidence informed
programmes to plan service delivery, target resources and provide strong evidence of impact and
What for
value we money.
will Support
We are more likely to support services that have clear aims and objectives, use evidence informed
programmes
We to plan
are less likely to service
support delivery,
services target
that doresourcesnot consider and the
provide
wholestrong
family,evidence of impacttarget
do not explicitly and
value for money.
those that are most vulnerable or cannot clearly demonstrate how the service makes a difference to
10
those it works with.
We are less likely to support services that do not consider the whole family, do not explicitly targetTorfaen Children and Family Services: Market Position Statement
therapeutic foster placements – contract due
to end March 2018.
The support the local authority
will offer towards meeting its
• 24 hour supported accommodation for young identified model
people, aged 16-17, with high support needs
whose behaviour challenges others contract
There is a strong desire to forge a new relationship
due to end November 2015.
with providers which works well for all who need
• Direct payments support provider contract due
care in our authority. We also wish to ensure
to end September 2014, but with an option to
that that there is a level playing field across all
extend for a further 2 years.
providers, whether private or voluntary, large or
small, whilst at the same time we can develop
As all contracts come to an end we will be a diverse market that has real choice for service
considering options on what services to consumers at its heart.
commission beyond the end date.
We will review current arrangements and look to
In line with the Young Persons Accommodation reduce requirements placed on providers to work
Strategy we will also be looking to: within complex contractual arrangements and to
• Develop short term accommodation options make it easier for existing and new providers to
for young people who are threatened with enter the market and work with us.
homelessness to allow time for further
investigations and prevention work to We will work with providers to ensure there is
be undertaken. more comparative data available about care and
• Make use of available prevention fund or support both for consumers and for providers.
discretionary monies to assist in the return
of young people to their family home. We will continue to encourage local people to
• Investigate the potential for developing help influence local commissioning decisions and
supported lodgings or reconfiguring the use will always consult with its residents to shape the
of existing temporary accommodation, to services they want.
allow young people to stay for a few nights
whilst further prevention work is undertaken. We will support voluntary, community and social
• Develop more supported housing options enterprise organisations to secure funding from third
to assist young people to move into suitable parties for activities that support our thinking in this
accommodation with adequate support area in particular those that seek to build resilience.
networks, and to help them develop basic
skills to boost independent living. We will provide information to existing users about
• Identify whether there is the potential to the changes in services we are making across the
develop a small number of high level support local authority area, and why.
accommodation units for young people with
complex needs. More effective use will be made of the prevention
• Explore opportunities with Registered Social tools available to housing and social services for
Landlords for developing small specific schemes assisting young people remain in their own homes
for groups of young people dispersed throughout and more training to be provided to agencies on
the borough. the tools available.
11For any queries relating to this document, please contact the Commissioning Unit on 01495 742991
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