Purpose

This report seeks agreement for the Greater Manchester Fostering Recruitment Hub to progress with the transition from the current model to an end-to-end fostering hub model. The current GM Fostering Hub is hosted by Rochdale Borough Council on behalf of the ten Greater Manchester local authorities under an existing Memorandum of Understanding. This arrangement supports the current GM recruitment model, focused on marketing, enquiry management, initial screening and early applicant engagement. The proposed model seeks to create a more integrated and consistent pathway for prospective foster carers, extending beyond initial enquiry and recruitment activity to encompass assessment and approval. It is important to note that this proposal does not include the recruitment, assessment and approval of Kinship (family and friends) foster carers that remains with the local authority.

Decision

Following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s, Families & Education, the Executive Director for People and Neighbourhoods has:-

(i) endorsed the strategic case for the transition from the current Greater Manchester Fostering Recruitment Hub model to an end-to-end regional fostering hub model.

(ii) noted the national policy context, including the Government's ambition to create 10,000 additional fostering placements and the associated Department for Education funding opportunities available to participating authorities.

(iii) approved in principle (subject to the below arrangements at recommendation

(iv) being finalised, agreed and implemented) that Rochdale Borough Council be the host authority for the end-to-end Greater Manchester Fostering Hub.

(iv) delegated authority to the Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Chief Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer, to negotiate, finalise and enter into all agreements necessary to establish and operate the end-to-end regional hub including, but not limited to:

·         the Partnership Agreement;

·         section 101 Local Government Act 1972 delegation arrangements;

·         funding and cost-sharing arrangements;

·         information sharing and data protection agreements;

·         governance arrangements;

·         staffing arrangements, and

·         any ancillary documentation required to give effect to the proposal.

(v) Subject to completion of the agreements referred to in recommendation (iv) and the required approvals being obtained by participating Greater Manchester local authorities, to approve in principle the delegation to the Director of Children’s Services (in consultation with other GM local authorities and the relevant Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education and the Section 151 officer) to agree the proposed funding formula and resource contributions for financial years 26/27 and 27/28 for the Council with a view to longer term delivery.

(vi) Subject to completion of the agreements referred to in recommendation (iv) to agree in principle to delegate the council’s foster carer recruitment, assessment and approval function to the Greater Manchester Fostering Recruitment Hub.

In line with Department for Education expectations, it is proposed that the operational implementation plan should be completed to support ‘go live’ from 16 October 2026, and this includes each participant local authority having secured the necessary governance approvals.  In order to meet this deadline, it is not possible for the matter to remitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet on 3 November 2026, and as such I have taken the decision as urgent action under the constitution.

The decision has also been exempted from call-in to ensure that it is capable of being implemented by 16 October 2026, however it was considered by the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee on 14 October 2026 prior to the decision being taken.

Alternative options considered

None.