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South East pilot gives care providers equal stake in developing placement contracts

Pilot project attempts to give care providers an equal say with councils in drawing up plans for care placements.
A flexible approach aims to meet children’s complex needs, including options to “step across” from residential to foster care. Picture: Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock
A flexible approach aims to meet children’s complex needs, including options to “step across” from residential to foster care. Picture: Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock

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The financial pressure on councils has led to the commissioning of care packages from the independent sector sometimes turning into an adversarial process – one where both parties often feel like they are being unfairly treated.

An innovative project, led by West Sussex County Council, is trying to improve the relationship between commissioners and providers by developing a joint process where each has an equal status, and in so doing better meets the needs of looked-after children.

Lucy Butler, executive director of children, young people and learning at West Sussex, says the initiative – called the South East Sector Led Improvement Programme (SESLIP) pilot – has the potential to refocus on children's needs and move closer to providing the “loving and safe” homes needed.

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