Agenda item

12.1

To notify the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee of the intention to submit a bid to the DfE Children’s Home Capital Fund and to seek approval for the Council to be the Accountable Body for the grant if the bid is successful.

12.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

1. endorses the submission of a bid to the Department for Education Children’s Home Capital Fund for 50% of the capital costs of building a new children’s home;

2. approves the Council being the Accountable Body for the grant if the bid is successful including agreeing to meet the requirement that the Council provide 50% match funding of the capital costs, noting that this equates to a capital commitment to fund £68,000 (initial estimation based on feasibility to date) to be allocated from the Corporate Investment Fund plus the cost of the land valued at £300,000; and

3) notes that if the bid is successful from 2024 the revenue budget will be diverted from the Children’s external placement budget to cover the establishment and running costs of the new children’s home.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

This proposal offers the Council a strong opportunity to bid to the DfE for capital match funding by utilising land value and identified capital funding via the Corporate Investment Fund.

12.3.2

The proposal will enable Sheffield City Council to increase its in-house sufficiency to care for young people with a complexity of need and vulnerability in a smaller group living environment.

12.3.3

The proposal is to deliver a 2 bedroomed property however the design is such that it would allow scaling up to care for three young people subject to careful matching in line with assessed need, creating greater economies of scale for the future.

12.3.3

Delivery of this project will enable capacity to be unlocked in the larger children’s homes increasing in-house capacity to provide homes for children and young people in Sheffield.

12.3.4

The proposal is in line with the Council’s Sufficiency and Corporate Parenting Strategies.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

This proposal is identified as a strong candidate to put forward as a bid to the DfE Children’s Home Capital Fund.

12.4.2

Alternative options that have been considered but are not recommended for progression at this time include:

• refurbishment of an existing council property to provide a 2- bedroom home to meet complex need. This proposal is not recommended at this time as the timescales for the submission of the bid have not enabled a suitable property to be identified with the necessary feasibility undertaken.

• build of a 2-bedroom home for young people with complex disabilities and learning disabilities. This proposal is not recommended due to the revenue model being more expensive than private and independent provision.

• development of a larger children’s home offering 4 bedrooms, this proposal has been considered but not progressed as the development of 2- 3 bedroomed home will support the Council in providing care for young people who need a smaller home environment. This will also positively impact on releasing capacity within Sheffield’s larger children’s homes enabling the larger homes to operate and care for 4-5 young people in line with their Statements of Purpose.

12.1

The Director of Integrated Commissioning presented a report notifying the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee of the intention to submit a bid to the DfE Children’s Home Capital Fund and to seek approval for the Council to be the Accountable Body for the grant if the bid is successful.

12.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

1. endorses the submission of a bid to the Department for Education Children’s Home Capital Fund for 50% of the capital costs of building a new children’s home;

2. approves the Council being the Accountable Body for the grant if the bid is successful including agreeing to meet the requirement that the Council provide 50% match funding of the capital costs, noting that this equates to a capital commitment to fund £68,000 (initial estimation based on feasibility to date) to be allocated from the Corporate Investment Fund plus the cost of the land valued at £300,000; and

3) notes that if the bid is successful from 2024 the revenue budget will be diverted from the Children’s external placement budget to cover the establishment and running costs of the new children’s home.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

This proposal offers the Council a strong opportunity to bid to the DfE for capital match funding by utilising land value and identified capital funding via the Corporate Investment Fund.

12.3.2

The proposal will enable Sheffield City Council to increase its in-house sufficiency to care for young people with a complexity of need and vulnerability in a smaller group living environment.

12.3.3

The proposal is to deliver a 2 bedroomed property however the design is such that it would allow scaling up to care for three young people subject to careful matching in line with assessed need, creating greater economies of scale for the future.

12.3.3

Delivery of this project will enable capacity to be unlocked in the larger children’s homes increasing in-house capacity to provide homes for children and young people in Sheffield.

12.3.4

The proposal is in line with the Council’s Sufficiency and Corporate Parenting Strategies.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

This proposal is identified as a strong candidate to put forward as a bid to the DfE Children’s Home Capital Fund.

12.4.2

Alternative options that have been considered but are not recommended for progression at this time include:

• refurbishment of an existing council property to provide a 2- bedroom home to meet complex need. This proposal is not recommended at this time as the timescales for the submission of the bid have not enabled a suitable property to be identified with the necessary feasibility undertaken.

• build of a 2-bedroom home for young people with complex disabilities and learning disabilities. This proposal is not recommended due to the revenue model being more expensive than private and independent provision.

• development of a larger children’s home offering 4 bedrooms, this proposal has been considered but not progressed as the development of 2- 3 bedroomed home will support the Council in providing care for young people who need a smaller home environment. This will also positively impact on releasing capacity within Sheffield’s larger children’s homes enabling the larger homes to operate and care for 4-5 young people in line with their Statements of Purpose.