The Department for Education is considering a new capital funding programme to aid local authorities to establish or develop current children’s home placements, with the goal of improving provision to meet the needs of young people in their care.

To aid this development the Department is holding two Engagement Days on 01st and the 07th July to share initial plans around this capital funding opportunity.

We are particularly interested in discussing with local authorities plans which look to:

• test innovative approaches to reducing the number of children needing care over time (e.g. respite care / edge of care, or step down from residential to foster care)

• where there are current shortfalls (e.g. geographic areas with fewer children’s homes, reducing the numbers of children placed out of their local authority area in residential care - where it is their best interests).

• provision for children with more complex needs or children on remand.

Why we want to hear from you?

This engagement day is a chance for central government and local authorities to discuss how this programme can achieve the best results and what potential there may be for their own areas. We will set out our initial vision and invite you to bring in your own thoughts, and concerns that can aid the direction of the programme.

We hope for these sessions to be as focused as possible and suggest those representatives to attend include:

- Local Authority commissioning and commercial leads, including those with construction experience/contacts.

- LA Architects responsible for delivering local area programmes.

We hope that by combining our experience we can develop a bidding process that will encourage successful, strong and innovative plans.

Proposed agenda for Market Engagement Day

Time Session

10:00 - 10:30 - Introduction from DfE team

10:30 - 11:00 - Outline of capital programme – current thoughts on main expectations and priorities for proposals

11:00 - 11:15 - Comfort Break

11:15 - 11: 45 - Open discussion including:

• Current planned timeline – is it realistic? Could it be shorter?

• Main barriers to bidding?

• Key risks to delivery?

• What frameworks do you have in place/you might use?

• Consideration of consortium bid/working with VCS?

11:45 - 11:50 - Comfort Break

11:50- 12:05 - Next steps and conclusion from DfE team

12:05 - 12:10 - Comfort Break

12:10 - 1:10 – Break out rooms with DfE team for local authorities to discuss potential bid ideas you might have

For any enquiries please contact: och.capital@education.gov.uk

Residential Children's Home Capital Funding Programme | Information Events