Purpose

This report seeks approval to terminate the contract for the operation of Precious House children’s home. The recommendation is driven by concerns regarding the outcomes experienced by children placed at the home and the provider’s inability to consistently demonstrate the capability required to deliver the high standard of care expected by the Council as Corporate Parent.

Decision

To agree to terminate the contract dated 17th July 2025 for the Provision of Children's Residential Services with St Christopher’s on 3 months’ notice, as permitted by the contract

Reasons for the decision

Concerns about the delivery of Precious House were identified soon after commencement of the service.  Despite efforts to work with the provider to improve practice, the situation has deteriorated to the extent that reasonable steps to address the concerns are no longer considered viable or effective and confidence in the ability of the provider to deliver the service is lost. 

A key factor resulting in these recommendations has been the outcomes experienced by children placed at Precious House. All children had moved from stable arrangements, where they had remained for several months, into situations that subsequently resulted in placement breakdowns and/or hospital admissions.

Recruitment and retention of staff have been of significant concern contributing both to delays in service delivery and to the deterioration of the emergency accommodation provision. The home has not had a permanent Registered Manager since registration and service commencement.

Further information outlined in Part B

Alternative options considered

Continuing the contract and working with St Christopher’s Fellowship to improve delivery has been attempted but has not achieved the required outcomes. Further improvement measures have been considered and discounted, as the provider remains unable to consistently meet service expectations and the level of improvement required is substantial. As a result, there is insufficient assurance that the necessary standards can be attained through continued contract management alone.

Closing the facility while a full re-procurement exercise is completed has been considered and rejected.  This will delay both improvement plans agreed through the Helping Families Thrive programme and any cost savings associated with the project.

The preferred option in the short term is to continue the current contract during the three-month notice period to ensure continuity of care, support the planned transition of children to appropriate placements, and enable the mobilisation of replacement provision if agreed.  Monitoring of the children in the provision will be intensified during this period to ensure they are safe, happy and well care for.

Additional considered and rejected options are described in Part B