Trusts told to offer long-term contracts

Children’s trusts should award long-term contracts of up to five years to encourage service providers to be more innovative, according to new government guidance.

They should also support smaller providers, such as local charities,  to compete and build capacity.

The guidance comes a week after Whitehall’s record of engaging with the voluntary sector was slammed in a report (Role of charities stymied by red tape  ,2 March).

● Joint Planning and Commissioning Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services from www.everychildmatters.gov.uk