Implementing the Cost Calculator in the North East regional local authorities
Various funding sources arranged by North East Regional Commissioning Unit (NERCU)
The Cost Calculator for Children's Services (CCfCS) was developed as part of the CCFR research project: Costs and Consequences of Different Types of Childcare Provision.
It is a practical software tool
designed to assist local authorities and other agencies to monitor the true costs of services to children and to link these to outcomes.
This project is part of a larger research programme that aims to extend the Cost Calculator
to include costs for all children in need:
The costs and outcomes of child welfare interventions: extending the Cost Calculator to include cost calculations for all children in need
The North East project will provide the local authorities in this region with a fuller understanding of the costs of decisions regarding the needs, outcomes and quality of services for looked after children.
The study will implement the Cost Calculator in the 12 North East local authorities, enabling them to make informed comparisons of unit costs between direct and purchased service options.
It will also make it possible to establish improved transparency of information on unit costs and create increased confidence in partnership commissioning with Independent Sector Providers.
The Cost Calculator will be rolled out to all participating authorities and the CCFR consultant will draw up an implementation plan with the project consultant in each local authority.
The project consultant will work with local authorities in clusters or on a geographical basis to implement the plan with minimum demands on local authority staff.
Potential additional features for individual local authorities beyond the core data set will be identified, e.g. foster care reviews, educational attainment; and enhancements will be made to the Cost Calculator to improve its value to the region.
Awaiting information.
This partnership will provide authorities in the North East with a clearer understanding on whether services are providing value for money and a basis for making comparisons and deciding where changes could be made.
Lisa Holmes.
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