To approve a procurement exercise for the provision of the Herefordshire intensive placement support service (HIPSS) and therapeutic intervention support service (TISS).

The cabinet member for children and young people introduce the report. He highlighted the value of the service and the benefits of placing children in home situations. He commended the work of foster carers in supporting children.

The childrens joint commissioning manager spoke to the report. He highlighted that:

·         the contract had first been awarded in 2014 to action for children;

·         there were two elements to the contract, the Therapeutic Intervention Support Service (TISS) provided support to front line practitioners while the Herefordshire Intensive Placement Support Service (HIPSS) worked with carers of children in the looked after system;

·         the service had had a significant impact and had produced savings for the council by allowing children to be cared for in a home setting rather than in residential care;

·         some efficiencies in the service had been delivered over the life of the contract;

·         it was intended that the scope of the service would be enhanced based on changes in demand and the profile of need, including supporting mainstream foster carers in the interest of placement stability;

·         if the contract was not renewed there would be a financial cost to the council as more children would require residential care and there was a lack of expertise in-house to replicate the services offered;

·         the new contract would be for an initial period of 3 years with an optional further 2 years based on performance.

In discussion that followed it was noted that the functionality of the contract and the anticipated savings required the number of looked after children to be under control. It was acknowledged that the council currently had a high level of looked after children.

Resolved that:

(a)  the commissioning intentions (see paragraphs 9-10) for Herefordshire intensive placement support service (HIPSS) and therapeutic intervention support service (TISS) are approved;

(b)  the Interim Director for Children’s Wellbeing (or the substantive director for Children’s Wellbeing once appointed) be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to implement the above recommendation, including award of contracts to a maximum value of £2.5m for up to five years, effective from 1 April 2018; and

(c)  The sufficiency of specialist in-house foster carers, who accommodate and support HIPSS children, is monitored alongside the future HIPSS / TISS contract, to be awarded to an external provider