Keys Group win “groundbreaking” Care and Education contract

02.12.10

Keys Group have been awarded the significant and "groundbreaking" Care and Education contract with a consortia of Local Authorities in the Home Counties

Oxfordshire County Council has led the joint venture with five other councils to provide more local residential and education provision for vulnerable children and young people including those looked after by local authorities.

The project's focus is on those children with the most complex and challenging needs who require particularly intensive help and support.

The other local authorities involved are Buckinghamshire County Council, the Council of the Borough of Milton Keynes, Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

The BetterCare Keys Group, the largest independent provider of this type of specialist care in the UK, has won the groundbreaking tender to provide the services. The contract has been awarded for 5 years with an option to extend for a further 3 years.

The project has also been supported by Improvement and Efficiency South East and the National Children's Bureau centre of excellence for residential child care.

Young people in care help form the plan
Young people currently looked after by local authorities were consulted on the plan and contributed their own ideas and experiences of life in care. They also took an active part in the tender evaluation and selection process.

In the past, individual authorities have commissioned services for the children in their region but have often located them outside of their home area due to the lack of available provision locally.

The new arrangement will mean children can be placed closer to their family and friend networks and services provided by their home authorities. There will also be cost savings to the local authorities from supporting placements more locally.

The service aims to begin early in 2011 and will offer 20 placements with education across the six authorities and an additional 4 day-places in education with an option to commission another ten residential and educational places within the contract period.

It's hoped this project might be followed by future joint commissioning on a wider basis covering other relevant services.

Councillor Louise Chapman, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, in Oxfordshire, said: "It's important to recognise that young people in care have helped contribute towards this groundbreaking scheme. We've listened to what they have to say and have worked together with other authorities to improve outcomes for those young people that cost less at the same time - it's a win win situation."

Director for Children, Young People and Families for Oxfordshire County Council, Meera Spillett, said: "This will be of huge benefit both to ourselves and some of the most vulnerable young people in our area who will be able to receive the highest quality of care within their own locality. Because of the small numbers involved, it would not have been possible without the partnership with other authorities."

Chief Executive of BetterCare Keys Group, Heather Laffin, said: "We are delighted in having been awarded this groundbreaking cross-regional contract. We are fully committed to working in partnership with the six local authorities in providing the best service we can for the duration of the contract and improving outcomes for this vulnerable group of children."