Bromley Council is set to establish a new framework for independent fostering agencies (IFAs) with an estimated annual value of £7.16 million, totalling £29 million over four years. This initiative aims to enhance the commissioning, onboarding, and quality assurance of IFA services for children in the council's care, aligning with the Council's 'Making Bromley Even Better' priority to manage resources effectively and provide efficient services.
The move comes amid national challenges in foster care, including a decline in approved fostering households and an increase in demand for placements, particularly for children with complex needs. Bromley Council itself has experienced a reduction in its own fostering households, making reliance on IFAs essential. The decline in approved households within Bromley is attributed to factors such as retirement, bereavement, and ill health among existing foster carers. While 10 new households were recruited in 2025/26, this followed a challenging year in 2024/25, resulting in an overall reduction from 77 to 70 households. Importantly, no households left to join other fostering agencies during this period.
The current spot purchasing arrangement for IFAs, in place since the Council withdrew from the Commissioning Alliance (CarePlace) in summer 2025, has resulted in variable pricing, limited negotiating power, and inconsistent quality control. The proposed framework will provide a more structured approach to market management and ensure better value for money. While specific projected cost savings or improvements in value for money compared to the current spot purchasing arrangement are not explicitly quantified, the report implies that a structured framework will offer better value through competitive pricing and more consistent quality assurance and contract management.
The new framework will be divided into six needs-led categories: Standard, Therapeutic, Parent and Child, Siblings, Disability/Complex Health, and Respite/Short-Term placements. Providers will be admitted based on a quality-led assessment, with a minimum OFSTED rating of 'good' or 'outstanding' required. Beyond the OFSTED rating, the quality evaluation will be broken down into several components: Experience and capability in SEND and adult social care transport (20%), Service reliability, resilience and continuity (20%), Contract management, information governance and reporting (15%), Driver and passenger assistant training and competence (15%), Safeguarding and passenger safety (10%), Quality and suitability of vehicles and equipment (10%), Equality, accessibility, social value and person-centred approach (5%), and Financial stability (5%).
Price will be scored alongside quality in call-off mechanisms to ensure both value and suitability for each child's needs. The tender evaluation will use a standard 60% price and 40% quality ratio. Providers must meet minimum quality standards to be admitted to the framework. At the call-off stage, both quality and price will be considered to ensure the most appropriate and best value placement, using a ranking of providers based on their price/quality score or similar mechanisms.
The report does not explicitly detail how the 'six needs-led categories' will be ensured to accurately reflect diverse and evolving needs, but the framework's structure aims to cater to specific needs. The report also mentions that the framework will be reopened for competition within the first three years and as required thereafter, suggesting a mechanism for adaptation.
The procurement process will adhere to the UK Procurement Act 2023, utilising a single-stage competitive tender. The anticipated timeline is as follows: Permission to Proceed to Procurement in June 2026, Tender Documents issued in June 2026, Closing Date for Return of Completed Tenders in August 2026, Evaluation of Submitted Tenders in August/September 2026, Permission to Award in November 2026, Award of Contracts in November 2026, and Commencement of Contracts in December 2026. The framework is set to commence in December 2026 and will run for four years.
The council will monitor and address potential issues of provider performance or quality through the framework's structure. Call-off from the framework will be undertaken through a combination of direct award and mini-competition, considering both quality and price. The framework's reopening for competition within the first three years and as required thereafter also suggests a mechanism for ongoing quality assurance and market management.
This initiative aligns with the Council's priority to support children and young people to thrive. For more details on the council's plans, refer to the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
