Opening a children's home · Local authority research
Find published council contacts and children's services sufficiency documents. This is a growing, source-checked directory, not a comprehensive list of every local authority in England.
A published contact for existing placements providers may not be the right person for a new home proposal. Always check with the authority before sending sensitive information. No council listing indicates a commitment to commission placements.
50 matching records · 50 council records in the directory
Evidence categories are indicators based on the published information held; they are not an assurance that a council is currently commissioning new placements.
South West · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official sufficiency strategy for children in care and care leavers; no direct commissioning email verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Placement and Homes Strategy 2026–2030; no direct commissioning email verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
Yorkshire and the Humber · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official corporate plan refers to implementation of children's sufficiency strategy; not the strategy itself or a direct provider contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East of England · Published children's commissioning team email
Published contact
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: childrenscommissioningteam@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Official children's commissioning page: publishes team email and residential children's homes purchasing information.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
North West · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
September 2025 councillor committee minutes report progress against cared-for sufficiency strategy; not proof of new private provider demand.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
Yorkshire and the Humber · Official children's services commissioning responsibilities; direct contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council-published commissioning manager role describes commissioning of residential, fostering and leaving-care placements. This is an official role description, not a current sufficiency strategy or direct contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
Yorkshire and the Humber · Official council report on children's placement sufficiency; commissioning contact unverified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
2024–2025 annual governance statement refers to 2025–2029 sufficiency strategy, development of local strategic provider partnerships and residential workforce pressures. The report is not itself the full strategy; obtain latest provider contact separately.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Published sufficiency strategy; contact needs confirming
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official children's social care sufficiency strategy 2025–28. Named report contact is not assumed to be the appropriate enquiries contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official council children-in-care page linking to its sufficiency strategy.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Published sufficiency strategy; commissioning contact requires reconfirmation
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official children's placements sufficiency strategy for 2023–27. No current direct commissioning email verified for this database.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Children in Care Placements Commissioning and Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2028; direct email unverified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official 2024–2029 children in care sufficiency strategy and commissioning actions
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy discusses placements and residential commissioning actions; no direct commissioning email verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
North East · Official sufficiency commissioning report; current contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council report on children's placement sufficiency and proposed strategy update; confirm the latest strategy and commissioning team before relying on historic report.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official looked-after children report; direct commissioning contact unverified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
2024 council report discusses residential placement sufficiency. Historic data, not a current strategy.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East of England · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official children in care strategies and sufficiency commissioning report; direct contact unverified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Home@theHeart sufficiency strategy 2025–2028; confirms placement priorities but does not guarantee external provider demand.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official residential care market position statements and sufficiency duty strategy
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council page links residential care market position statement and sufficiency duty strategy. Direct commissioning email not confirmed.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Official placement sufficiency strategy, no direct commissioning email verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy updated September 2023, review due September 2028.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official children in care sufficiency strategy; commissioning email not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Kent Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2028. Official council source. Do not assume that the named strategy lead accepts new-provider enquiries.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
Yorkshire and the Humber · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official corporate parenting strategy 2021–2024, historical context only; current sufficiency strategy and contact unverified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official social care and education provider hub, including 2025–2030 placement sufficiency priorities.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official June 2026 FOI response on residential placement demand and costs, with links to the council's commissioning strategies.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
North West · Official children's placements commissioning and sufficiency strategy
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Commissioning and Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2030 available from council. No direct provider contact verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
London · Children's sufficiency strategy 2025–2028; direct provider contact unverified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official strategy discusses in-house homes and reducing reliance on external placements. Do not infer demand for new independent providers.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
London · Children in care market position statement 2025–2027
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council's market position statement sets out commissioning intentions for children in care and care experienced young people. No current direct contact verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
London · March 2026 children's placement sufficiency scrutiny update
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council update describes local placement pressures and new council-owned homes. Not a current provider procurement invitation; contact unverified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
London · Official council report on placement sufficiency implementation
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
January 2025 scrutiny committee minutes refer to implementation of placement sufficiency strategy. Historic contextual evidence, not a current strategy or commissioning contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East of England · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Children's services sufficiency strategy 2025–2030; no direct commissioning email verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
North West · Official sufficiency strategy agenda and published commissioning service lead
Published contact
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: Janell.Wilken@manchester.gov.uk
October 2026 council agenda names Janell Wilken as Commissioning and Contracts Service Lead for proposed 2027–2032 sufficiency strategy. Check strategy approval status and appropriate enquiry routing before contacting.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Named Head of Children's Services Commissioning (public council report)
Published contact
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: james.harman@medway.gov.uk
2026–2029 sufficiency strategy approved June 2026; commissioning head's contact published on linked decision.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East of England · Official children in care sufficiency strategy
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Norfolk policy portal links sufficiency strategy, updated June 2025. Direct commissioning email not verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official commissioning and sufficiency strategy appendices; contact unverified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
March 2026 Northamptonshire Children's Trust annual report contains commissioning and sufficiency strategy appendices.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Published council commissioning intentions contact
Published contact
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: SCandMD@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Official commissioning page publishes this email for commissioning intentions and links children's sufficiency strategy. Confirm suitability for new residential provider enquiries.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official sufficiency and commissioning strategy (2023–2025); older strategy, check latest before relying on it.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official historic placements sufficiency committee report
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
July 2023 council report. Historic evidence only; verify more recent position before relying on it.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council cabinet finance report discusses residential placement commissioning and need for complex emotional and behavioural provision. Report not a guaranteed current commissioning opportunity.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Official placement sufficiency strategy 2024–2027 covering children's homes and other placements.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Brighter Futures for Children sufficiency strategy 2024–2026; strategy nearing end of stated period.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
Yorkshire and the Humber · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
September 2026 council committee endorsed priorities for refreshed 2026–2029 placement strategy; final published strategy not confirmed.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Official children's services performance and sufficiency evidence
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
April 2026 report discusses work on sufficiency strategy and commissioning. No direct new-provider contact verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Children's Care Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2029; direct commissioning email unverified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official sufficiency strategy; direct commissioning email not confirmed
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Council publishes Sufficiency Strategy for Children Looked After and Care Leavers 2023–2028 and South West regional sufficiency information. Confirm current commissioning contact through council.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Official sufficiency strategy and published commissioning contact
Historical / review needed
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: eddiebirch@staffordshire.gov.uk
Council publishes Sufficiency Strategy: Homes for Children in Our Care 2023–2026 and identifies Eddie Birch as a commissioning officer contact. Confirm current responsibility and details before use; strategy period is nearing its end.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East of England · Published market-development email in 2023–2025 commissioning intentions; reconfirm
Historical / review needed
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: commissioningcicmarket@suffolk.gov.uk
Council sufficiency strategy 2022–2026 and later refresh; earlier published commissioning intentions invite residential provider approaches; confirm current contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official looked-after children sufficiency strategy; commissioning email not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Safe and Stable Homes: Looked After Children and Care Leaver Sufficiency Strategy 2025–2028. PDF hosted on the council domain; verify latest version before relying on it.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · Official sufficiency / commissioning source; direct contact not verified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Sufficiency Strategy for Homes for Children in Care 2025–2028; no direct contact verified.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
East Midlands · Official children's social care strategy scrutiny; contact unverified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
June 2026 scrutiny item on residential children's care and commissioning. A new sufficiency strategy decision was still pending in October 2026.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South East · Official residential commissioning framework decision; direct contact unverified
Council strategy / source
Direct commissioning contact not verified
Decision dated January 2026 concerning framework for residential provision. Not a full current sufficiency strategy.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
South West · Official council evidence; commissioning contact not verified
Historical / review needed
Direct commissioning contact not verified
2024 committee pack references placement sufficiency strategy and action plan; historic contextual report only, not verified current commissioning contact.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
West Midlands · External placements provider contact
Published contact
Published contact available; confirm that it handles new-provider enquiries
Published contact: placements@worcestershire.gov.uk
Published external placements provider email. Confirm whether this team handles enquiries from prospective new homes.
Last source check: 19/10/2026. Reconfirm before contacting.
