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Home / For professionals / Resources to support special guardians / Key elements of a special guardianship support service / 15. Commissioning systems and processes

15. Commissioning systems and processes

Why is this needed?

Since 2016 local authorities can now apply to the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) for therapeutic services to children subject to a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) and previously LAC. Commissioning and procuring the most appropriate services for an individual or group, in a timely and effective way, is key to supporting SGO placements. Local authorities may also wish to use their own funding to commission SGO support services.


Government/Statutory requirements

“Regulation 4: Securing the provision of services

“29. Section 14F(9)(b) of the Act enables the local authority to arrange for special guardianship support services to be provided by another body.”

(Department for Education 2017)


Research/SGO perspective

Thus far only 8% of applications to the Adoption Support have been made on behalf of SGO placements.


Examples of approaches currently being taken

ASPIRE has access to a resources team for procurement processes. A list of approved providers is kept to speed-up the process of providing therapeutic services.

ATV has a commissioning plan and support from a Strategic Commissioning Team. This includes the design and review of services, the commissioning of parenting support services and external therapy funded by the ASF. The contracts awarded are managed by Oxfordshire County Council’s Quality and Contracts Team ensuring that all providers meet minimum requirements. An Approved Provider List for therapy providers is in development. There is an external contract for the provision of training and support services to prospective adopters, approved adopters and SGs.

As well as commissioning therapeutic services, some local authorities commission wider services from the voluntary sector. The most common of these was the Kinship Connected service provided by Grandparents Plus.


Additional considerations

The only two examples offered of good commissioning practice were provided by the two regional adoption agencies (RAAs) in the survey. However, all local authorities and RAAs should have access to procurement and commissioning advice, given the level of spending on adoption support and special guardianship services made possible by the ASF. With this infrastructure in place, it should not be difficult to include SG support services in the same arrangements. However, the lack of engagement of SG services with the ASF nationally indicates a wider lack of knowledge about the ASF as referenced in section 11, and perhaps a lack of capacity to undertake assessments and make applications.

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Special Guardians Best Practice Sidebar

Contents

Overview

1. An understanding of the need for services

2. A mechanism for governance, management and service planning

3. Information for, and communication with, carers

4. Engagement and consultation with Special Guardians

5. Communication with children & young people

6. Referral and assessment systems and processes

7. Preplacement support to Special Guardians and children

8. Support with contact arrangements and managing family relationships

9. Financial advice and Support

10. Preventive/Early Intervention support for families and children’s emotional and psychological well-being

11. Specialist support for families and children’s emotional and psychological well-being

12. Services to support the transition of young people to independence

13. Support to access services from other parts of the Local Authority

14. Support to access services from other agencies

15. Commissioning systems and processes

16. Workforce development

17. Monitoring and evaluation

18. Birth parent support

19. Budget and resources

20. A plan for the future development of services

Conclusion

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Kinship is the working name for Grandparents Plus, which is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 4454103 and registered as a charity under number 1093975

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