Purpose

Continued increases in demand for statutory
services, both nationally, as well as in Bristol, is putting
pressure on teams and placement budgets. For those children that
are taken into care, life chances can be significantly impaired.
The Families First transformation programme will make a step change
so that services are more focused on earlier help and prevention,
reducing the need for statutory interventions, including
placements.
Bristol City Council has been working with Newton Europe Ltd, an
external specialist consultancy, to undertake a diagnostic and
produce a full business case that describes the objectives, scope,
costs and benefits of undertaking the transformation
programme.
The business case was approved at CYP Committee on 23rd January
2025.
The Council wishes to direct award a contract to Newton Europe Ltd
to mobilise the programme described in the business case, including
refinement of the costs and benefits so that the business case can
be updated and approved for delivery.

Content

Bristol City Council have decided to spend up
to £475,000 to commission Newton Europe Ltd to update the
business case, develop detailed delivery plans and mobilise the
Families First Programme.

Alternative options considered

1. Undertaking the mobilisation phase using
internal transformation resources, but this option was dismissed
because of the lack of specialist capacity and capability
available.
2. Inviting proposals to undertake the mobilisation phase from
other providers of consultancy services. This option was dismissed
for two reasons:
a) Newton Europe Ltd is the market leading specialist in the
Children’s Services sector and it was considered as very
unlikely that another provider could undertake the work efficiently
and effectively, particularly given that Newton had completed the
diagnostic and supported the business case
b) Urgency around the need for having no delay in mobilising the
programme to secure savings in 2025/26. It was decided that opening
up the mobilisation phase to other providers would introduce a
significant and unacceptable delay, given the Council’s
financial position