Sunderland is a step closer to setting up a new organisation to deliver its children’s services following a report to the City Council’s Cabinet today.
Working closely with its Commissioner, Nick Whitfield and the Department for Education (DfE), the council hopes to have the new company up and running in shadow form by September before it becomes an organisation in its own right next April.
The company will be responsible for delivering the highest quality services to children and their families as well as the infrastructure needed to run fully integrated children’s services.
Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet today agreed the scope of services which will be transferred to the new children’s services company and its proposed governance arrangements.
The Cabinet backing is still subject to approval by the Commissioner for Children’s services and the DfE.
It also agreed the process for developing a business case to support the establishment of the new company and a Memorandum of Understanding with the DfE which will support working arrangements between the council and the company going forwards.
The council has been working closely with Nick Whitfield, the Commissioner for Children’s Services and the Department for Education (DfE) since last July’s Ofsted report to look at how it can do things differently to ensure the best possible services for children and families.
Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’ve seen a significant amount of work over the last year to improve Children’s Services and safeguarding, including £16m of further investment to strengthen management and support and take on additional frontline staff.
“During this time we have worked closely with the Commissioner and the Department for Education to come up with a plan that will help deliver the improvements we need.
“We recognise that there is a need for a fundamental change in the way we deliver services for children to ensure the best possible future for children and young people in the city.
“The new organisation will create fully integrated children’s services covering education, children’s social care and early help services. We believe this is the best way of helping deliver the services children and young people need to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.”
Nick Whitfield, the Commissioner for Children’s Services in Sunderland, added: “Sunderland is the first council to look at voluntarily transferring its services out of council control in co-operation with the Department for Education so the new company will be the first of its type in the country.”
“The council has been very co-operative in recognising the need to do something different and that is something it deserves credit for. This is a real opportunity to deliver innovative children’s services that can ensure further improvement and sustained delivery.”