Working in partnership with local authorities to agree fair fees
Online seminar for independent fostering agencies seeking greater confidence and competence in working with local authorities
This upskilling seminar is designed for independent fostering agencies seeking greater confidence and competence in navigating fee negotiations and partnership working with local authorities. The seminar will focus on the following key areas:
- Understanding the fundamentals of commissioning and procurement and exploring what “best value” means in practice
- Working with different contract terms and conditions, understanding how these influence cost, risk and expectations
- How IFAs understand and articulate their own cost structures, and to identify what information is appropriate and helpful to share with commissioners to inform transparent, evidence-based decisions
- Participants will explore the different types of fee reviews that take place—why they are held, when they occur, and how to navigate the different tools, processes and approaches to these
The seminar will cover the topic of duplication and inefficiency, and explore ways to provide healthy, respectful and constructive feedback and challenge. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to work in partnership with local authorities to agree fair fees and how to promote collaborative ways of working to develop a more efficient and effective way of determining value for money.
Marie Tucker brings over 25 years of experience in children’s social care, including time as a local authority commissioner with a remit on securing best value. Having maintained an overview of foster care commissioning and contracting arrangements across the UK for the last 15 years, Marie shares practical insights and learning on the approaches that most effectively support genuine partnership working.
This event will be hosted on Google Meet - accessibility; delegates will be emailed details of how to join a few days beforehand
