Local authority budgets, much like that of households, are under pressure from the rising cost of living, whether that be utility bills, staff wages or purchasing services. But there are some relatively straightforward changes authorities can make in purchasing residential and foster care services for children from the independent sector that can deliver savings in the short term – and some more complex but still achievable measures to consider in the longer term. The objectives of both are to improve availability, achieve better value for money and improve outcomes for local authorities and their vulnerable children.
The suggestions should deliver savings and benefits within current commissioning and governance models of sub-regional consortia and individual local authority purchasing, rather than being reliant on future unknowns such as the regional care co-operatives, which will not be on stream in most areas until 2025 and may not deliver savings anyway.
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