Camden Council's Cabinet has approved a new framework for children's community services, designed to enhance support for disabled children and those with additional needs. This new model, procured jointly with the London Borough of Islington, will deliver Short Breaks
and other community services, replacing the current system of block contracts and spot purchasing which has been strained by increasing demand and complexity of need.
The framework is structured into four distinct service lots:
- Lot 1: Group-based and club activities in provider-operated venues, including after-school, weekend, and holiday schemes.
- Lot 2: Individual and small-group support in the home and/or community, incorporating 'crisis care' and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
- Lot 3: Home care providing one-to-one (or higher) support for children and young people with personal care and medical needs and/or behaviours that challenge, requiring CQC registration.
- Lot 4: Short breaks support specifically for young people aged 14-19, aimed at fostering independence and preparing them for adulthood.
This new approach marks a significant shift from the previous fixed block contracts and reactive spot purchasing, moving towards a more flexible, planned, and transparent system. The current provision supports approximately 135 children through commissioned contracts and 90-100 children through spot purchase arrangements, with an increasing number requiring enhanced support due to medical needs, challenging behaviours, or safety considerations.
The overarching outcomes for the framework include promoting healthy lifestyles, ensuring cultural appropriateness, fostering community inclusion, preparing young people for independence, and providing consistent respite for parents and carers. For young people in Lot 4, the specific outcome is to support them in becoming as independent as they can be during their transition to adulthood.
The procurement strategy employs a price/quality split of 40% price and 60% quality. Within the quality weighting, 10% is specifically allocated to social value. A tiered Social Value model will be applied, with requirements scaled to a provider's size and level of spend. This ensures that smaller local organisations and SMEs can participate without undue burden, while larger providers are expected to deliver greater community impact, supporting local employment, skills development, inclusive opportunities, and community engagement.
The contract term is set for eight years, with a total potential value of up to £45 million across both Camden and Islington councils. Camden's forecasted expenditure through the framework is capped at £3 million annually. This new approach is expected to improve flexibility, choice, oversight, and value for money. It also aims to bring in a wider range of providers, including smaller local organisations, and increase choice for families. The framework is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
The Community Framework will also enable scrutiny of the quality and cost of individual packages, ensuring residents receive maximum value for money through checks and balances on provider charges, thereby strengthening oversight and quality assurance across all four lots of services.
For more information on the decisions made by the Cabinet, please refer to the Decisions 08th Sep 2026 Cabinet document.
