Hampshire County Council has given the green light to a £35m contract aimed at securing residential care capacity for children in care with complex needs.
The council has approved a proof-of-concept contract involving pump priming and block contracting.
The contract represents ‘a genuinely new initiative to be piloted,’ according to director of Children’s Services Stuart Ashley.
The move will be supported over a five-and-a-half-year period by up to £35m from the existing children and families budget for looked-after children’s placements.