Nottinghamshire County Council has approved a £140 million procurement framework to manage emergency care placements and crisis support for children. The 10-year framework will pre-approve care providers capable of delivering urgent support, including last-minute foster placements and in-home interventions aimed at preventing children from entering care.
The move is intended to replace costly, inconsistent “spot contracts” with a controlled system that improves service quality and procurement efficiency. Providers will be vetted through a digital tendering platform to ensure financial and operational suitability.
The framework will be used only when existing contracts cannot meet urgent needs. It is expected to reduce budget volatility in children’s services and create a more competitive, responsive local provider market. Annual spending could reach up to £14 million, exclusive of VAT.
