Provider Services

The Provider Services team is at the forefront in ensuring that robust contract management systems are embedded across all specialist providers wherever a Suffolk child and young person is placed, this a statutory function. The team ensure specialist education providers are commissioned appropriately and continue to comply with contractual expectations.  This includes day to day responsibility for provider relationships, alongside regular provider development reviews. In the event of noncompliance or poor performance, the Provider Services team will liaise with senior colleagues around an appropriate course of action and response.

The Provider Services team is responsible for the expansion and ongoing improvement of the local offer (specialist school placements within Suffolk).  To do this the team collates and manages data across the SEND Partnership (Health, Education and Social Care) to identify projected demand through sufficiency planning.

Provider Services ensures that any new special education provider supplies the required information to enable them to be put on to the payment system.  This includes checks on relevant policies and safeguarding practices.

Quality Assurance of providers remains the responsibility of Ofsted and other regulatory bodies.  If there is a serious concern regarding a provider, such as an inadequate Ofsted notification directly relating to a provider, the Provider Services team will immediately escalate to senior colleagues within Education and Social Care (if applicable), in order for them to take appropriate action and plan a response.