Peninsula Fostering in Independent Fostering Agency Placements

This lot is for the delivery of fostering services to be provided by Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) for children and young people aged 0-18 years in the care of the Peninsula Authorities. Fostering services means provision of a family home with a foster family where children and young people in our care are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes and have their needs supported. Foster families providing care and support for children and young people identified will be registered with an IFA operating on the Peninsula fostering Framework. Staying Put services and arrangements will be provided for children and young people aged 18 and above.

This lot sets out the requirements for the delivery of fostering services to be provided by Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA’s) for children and young people aged 0-18 years with complex needs who require support moving from residential care to living with a foster family (Step Forward arrangement); and/ or require a bespoke fostering arrangement to best support their complex needs, which could include a requirement for specialist therapeutic intervention whilst living with a foster family. Once children and young people have been enabled to live with a foster family and it is agreed bespoke and specialist therapeutic support can be decreased, it is expected the child or young person’s arrangement will then move to that of a Standard Fostering arrangement.

This lot sets out the requirements for the delivery of parent and child arrangements, placements and/or assessments. These placements, arrangements or assessments must take place in a fostering household supported by registered foster carers, or in the community, monitored by outreach support delivered by professionals. These placements or arrangements aim to enable parent/s and their child, where it is safe to do so, to have the opportunity to undertake a parenting capacity assessment, whilst being guided and supported by experienced and appropriately skilled foster carers.

This lot sets out the requirements for the delivery of family based short breaks for disabled children and children and young people with SEND aged from 0-18 years. Services will be provided by foster carers supported by Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) who are operating on the Peninsula Framework Agreement for fostering services. Children and young people and families supported by these services will be identified by Peninsula Authorities. Peninsula Authorities include: - Devon County Council, Somerset Council, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council.

The Peninsula partnership are looking to develop and co-design emergency fostering with interested Independent Fostering Agencies. This specification has been written with the intention to co-design specific sections and elements with interested providers.