In January this year, Children Now revealed that work to develop anational contract for children in residential care was under way(Children Now, 4-10 January). The aim was to improve outcomes forchildren by raising standards and reducing bureaucracy.
Last week it emerged that the contract is likely to be ready for localauthorities and children's homes providers to comment on byNovember.
Tracey Bowers, regional commissioning officer at Hertfordshire CountyCouncil, told the Independent Children's Homes Association that thegroup developing the contract now has a list of outcomes providers willbe expected to achieve for children.
For example, the outcome of children and young people making a positivecontribution will be broken down. It is suggested that children's homeswill have to show local authorities that children are actively involvedin planning their care.
Providers will have to ensure that every child and young person has acopy of plans for their health, education and placement in a format theyunderstand. And where a child is admitted to a home in an emergency, aplacement plan will have to be developed with the placing localauthority within 72 hours.
Other areas to be specified in the contract include providersencouraging children and young people to express their views and makeuse of advocacy services. And the provider will also have to ensurestaff are trained to undertake effective consultation with youngpeople.
Hertfordshire County Council is developing the contract on behalf of theAssociation of Directors of Social Services. Local authorities have yetto see the latest plans.
Vivien Snape, chair of the Independent Children's Homes Association'said: "The consultation process sounds genuine."
Earlier this year the independent children's home sector expressedconcerns that they were not being involved in drawing up thecontract.
The contract follows the example set by the national contract for theplacement of children in independent and non-maintained day andresidential schools.
The placement contract, which is used by local authorities and specialschools, is widely credited with reducing bureaucracy and making thecosts of placements more transparent.
