£835K win for Children’s Services

Havering Council will lead in developing a new residential care model for children aged 11 – 17 in North East London boroughs. The offer will support between four to five young people from each borough who need residential care.

At present, Havering Council does not have a local residential care facility. Forming a new collaborative commissioning model between the boroughs will ensure local children can stay in their own or a local borough.

The commissioning model focuses on local authorities working together to provide better care, which offers value for money and promotes improved outcomes for young people. The model will be developed in partnership with young people, ensuring that the voice of the child is heard and listened to throughout the planning and implementation of the programme.

Residential care providers will be incentivised through a payment by results contract to ensure a consistently high level of support is delivered to all young people. The programme promotes Havering’s ethos of systemic working and co-production, putting the voice of the child first.

Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning at Havering Council, said:

“The funding is a great opportunity for the North East London Commissioning Partnership and young people. The new model will allow local authorities to work directly with young people throughout the programme.

“We will work with young people and care providers to develop a high-quality service in residential settings, and this funding will help us to support young people through residential care and back into a home environment.”