READING Borough Council is considering bringing children’s services back in house, following a recommendation by an independent body.
Since 2018, children’s services in Reading have been delivered by Brighter Futures for Children, but its seven-year contract is set to end in 2026.
Ahead of the end of the contract, the council has consulted an independent body to review its future options for children’s social care and education.
The council received a recommendation from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), which undertook a detailed review of options, that the council recommence operating it’s own management and delivery of the services.
This was suggested on the basis that it would lead to better direct control of services and remove a layer of governance, likely leading to “more agile decision making and removing duplication of reporting.”
It is suggested it would also remove the pressure on Council services of maintaining service level agreements and improve integration with other council services.
A report will be presented to a meeting of the Council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday, December 18, with a final decision set to be made by the council at the end of January.
Under the terms of the contract, the Council must inform BFfC of its decision by March 2025 and give one year’s notice of termination. If the recommendation is agreed, staff currently working at BFfC would be transferred over to the Council under a TUPE arrangement.
In the report, the council says it acknowledges the “significant progress made by BFfC over the last six years,” but also that further progress is required.
The recommendation also outlines that an independently chaired Improvement Board is set up to provide scrutiny of and support to the delivery of service improvement across Reading’s Children’s Services.
Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “There is no question that BFfC has made progress towards the overarching ambition set for the company back in 2018, but it is also true to say there remains much work to be done.
“With BFfC’s initial contract now drawing to an end, and in the context of the enormous challenges faced by children’s services nationwide, this was the right time for an independent body to carry out a detailed review and look at possible options for future delivery.
“The recommendation to bring the service back under Council control will now be considered by Councillors next week, before a final decision is made in January on the best way forward.
“I want to place on record my enormous gratitude to BFfC staff, whose commitment and dedication to children in Reading is without question. We are committed to ensuring those same children and young people are not affected as we go through this process.
“Our overall ambition remains to further improve the quality and stability of Children’s Services in Reading, and to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.”
Di Smith, Chair of BFfC, and on behalf of the BFfC Board, said: “The Board of Brighter Futures for Children supports the proposal to return full responsibility for the delivery of Children’s Services to the Council.
“We recognise that alternative delivery models in children’s services have become less popular in recent years and are now very rarely the preferred option in response to statutory intervention.
“Given the national picture of increased costs and pressures in children’s services, it is logical that councils, including Reading Council, would want to have full control of delivery and expenditure at this present moment in time.”
