Supporting Stability and Sufficiency of children in care placements

Derbyshire County Council

Publication date 12 January 2026, 4:04pm
Contract locations
UKF - East Midlands (England)
UKF13 - South and West Derbyshire

Soft Market Testing
THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION
Derbyshire County Council has over 1000 children in care. Approximately 50% of these children in care are in placements sourced through external providers, within residential, fostering and supported accommodation.
This is an opportunity for OFSTED registered providers to support in the delivery of Good and Outstanding quality, stable and local placements to the Council’s Children in Care.
The Council is committed to driving a dynamic, outcomes-focused, child-centred placement market, which offers good value, quality and choice. The Council also aim to ensure that the right placement is found the first time, on time, every time and to deliver statutory duties. The Council is wanting to develop partnerships that will help the Council’s Commissioners and Providers to address areas of sufficiency and establish a clear and strategic sense of direction for future provision within Derbyshire.
The Council would welcome responses from foster care providers, residential providers, and supported accommodation providers to work with the Council to find creative solutions for Derbyshire’s Children in Care.

Supporting Stability and Sufficiency of children in care placements