The Council use Babcock for Educational Services for SEND, can you advise on the Below:
Have Babcock bid and been awarded these services.
What was the Cost Awarded to Babcock to supply these services.
Are these services supplied under a frame work agreement to supply staff to Devon County Council.
If Babcock are employed under a framework Agreement and cannot supply staff, under the frame work agreement what are the Consequences & Penalties to them.
if the failure to supply staff affects the laid down Guidelines for an EHCP, should the Council not look else where for staff Resources to comply with the Children and Family Act 2014.
Under the Children and Family Act 2014 (SEND Guidance), the Local Council has 20 weeks to issue an EHCP, if they Fail to issue a Draft EHCP within 20 weeks then this act of law has been broken, which individual in Devon County Council is responsible for this failure.
In response to all of these questions, we can confirm that Devon County Council (DCC) no longer use Babcock. The contract and Joint Venture between DCC and Babcock finished 31/07/2022. All teams were TUPE’d back to Devon County Council.
In relation to staff levels, we confirm that there is a national shortage of educational psychologists and DCC continue to actively seek and promote recruitment and retention of staff