READING Borough Council has voted to bring children’s services back in-house following independent recommendations.
At a meeting yesterday (Tuesday, January 28) councillors voted to bring children’s services back under council management.
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 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.”
Councillors unanimously agreed with CIPFA’s recommendation at last night’s Council meeting, recognising that Children’s Services requires more improvement.
They also agreed to set up an independently chaired Improvement Board to drive forward further service improvements in Children’s Services so that it is able to better meet the needs of Reading’s children and families.
The agreement means several changes have now been set in motion.
These include the transfer of 550 staff from Brighter Futures for Children to the council, as well as around 100 contracts and 12 leases.
It will also see the closure of the Independent Fostering Agency, a transition to a Local Authority Fostering Service, and changes to all relevant Ofsted registrations.
The council estimates that the cost of the transfer could reach around £600,000.
It also projected ongoing savings of between £200,000 and £300,000 to the Children’s Services budget, meaning it is anticipated initial costs will be fully recovered over a two-to-three-year period.
Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “In the context of the enormous challenges faced by local authorities nationwide in delivering Children’s Services, and BFfC’s initial seven-year contract drawing to an end, now is the right time for the Service to transfer back to the Council.
“This not only provides the Council with better direct control, but additionally removes a layer of governance and helps to further integrate Children’s Services with other Council services.
“All of these advantages were spelt out in CIPFA’s independent review.”
She added: “On behalf of Reading, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to everybody at BFfC for the significant progress it has made towards delivering a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating, which was a key ambition of the contract.
“At the same time, we acknowledge we still have a way to go in order to achieve that.
“And while last night’s decision brings a chapter to an end, the reality is it is business as usual, both at BFfC over the coming months and at the Council thereafter, to ensure we continue to drive improvement to meet the needs of vulnerable children, young people and families in Reading.
“While this is a significant change for the staff involved, I know that is something which is always at the forefront of their mind.”
Di Smith, Chair of BFfC, and on behalf of the BFfC Board, said: “The Board of Brighter Futures for Children supports the decision 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.”
