Purpose

The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill was introduced into the Senedd on 20th May.  The Bill will restrict the making of profit in the provision of care home services to children, secure accommodation services and fostering services.

It will place a requirement on all Welsh local authorities to secure sufficient accommodation provided by not-for-profit entities either within or near to its area.

New providers of children’s residential care seeking to register with Care Inspectorate Wales, will be required to have not-for-profit status from 1st April 2026.  Existing for-profit providers will need to transition to not-for-profit status by 1st April 2027.

Decision

RESOLVED: that

1. The Providing Homes for Children Strategy be approved for submission to Welsh Government and publication.

1. Authority be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children Services and Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People (Children’s Services), the Council's Section 151 Officer and the Council's Monitoring Officer, to determine all aspects of the procurement process for the commissioning of Children’s Care Home services (including decision-making around the model, approving the evaluation criteria to be used, and authorising the award of the contracts) and all ancillary matters pertaining to the procurement and proposals above.

1. Director of Children’s Services be authorised to take forward the discussions with other local authorities on collaborative working to assist with the provision of homes that meet our needs.