RESOLVED:
1. That the procurement strategy for the provision of children’s residential care in Southwark as an in-house service, under the children and families division of the council from August 2024 be approved.
2. That the one off costs covering the whole mobilisation period necessary to operationalise the first children’s home, estimated to be £436,331, which will be met from reserves earmarked for this purpose be noted.
3. That authority be delegated to the strategic director of children’s and adults’ services to approve operational and resourcing decisions for the establishment of the first children’s home and subsequent homes in line with the outline proposals set out in the report.
4. That a further report on the implementation of a quality assurance framework for residential service delivery, to include specific reference to the quality of provision and safe and effective recruitment and retention arrangements be received by cabinet.