Purpose

To agree to move from the current GM recruitment-only fostering hub to a fully integrated End-to-End Fostering Hub covering recruitment, assessment, approval, and support processes, which will result in costs and contribution above £500,000 in year 2 and changes to governance and local decision  making arrangements.

Decision

The Executive:-

(1)        Note the case for change underpinning the move towards a more regionalised approach to fostering recruitment and approval, including the proposal to transition from the current Greater Manchester (GM) recruitment-focused fostering hub to a fully integrated End-to-End (E2E) Fostering Hub.

(2)        Note the national context of creating an additional 10,000 placements including significant additional investment from the Department for Education

(3)        Agree the proposed funding formula and resource contributions for financial years 26/27 and 27/28 with a view to longer term delivery. The financial contributions from Manchester Council being

·            2026/27: £242,818 (comprising £45,000 cash plus approximately £197,000 staffing contribution).  

·            2027/28: £742,238 total contribution.  

(4)        Agree the proposed changes to governance and local decision-making arrangements.