Fourteen (14) local authorities: Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset Council, Isle of Wight Council, Poole Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Children's Services Trust, Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and West Berkshire Council, (thereby referred to as The Councils) are working together to improve placement choice and quality for the children and young people they look after.

In order to improve placement choice and quality, the Councils wish to work in partnership with a number of providers who can demonstrate that they have the ability to deliver high quality independent foster care services, and work in partnership to ensure a range of placements are available based within or near the Councils boundaries.

Estimated total value is GBP 200 000 000 — GBP 400 000 000.

Please see main short description. The estimated value below is liable to change.

Please see main short description. The estimated value below is liable to change.

Please see main short description. The estimated value below is liable to change.

Please see main short description. The total contract value per Lot is based on the anticipated spend in year 1 only. It is to be noted that Lot 4 is a new service and contract usage and spend is yet to be determined and will be based on market response and capacity to deliver the new requirements. The South Central Consortium anticipate an increase in foster care placement numbers throughout the term of the contract and therefore the overall contract value is based on an overall spend of GBP 200 000 000 to GBP 400 000 000 to take in to account an increase in demand.