Croydon LBC has pledged to be ‘clearer' with children's services providers ‘about what we want services to achieve' following the collapse of an £8.6m contract.
The seven-year care home contract with charity St Christopher's Fellowship broke down within months of the first child being placed.
A council review into children's services commissioning, carried out following the termination of the four-bed home contract amid staffing level concerns, said the authority needed to give providers a clearer understanding of its ‘expectations and values', as well as involve potential providers earlier.
St Christopher's Fellowship ‘strongly disputes' the council's claims over staffing and insisted any concerns raised during the contract had been responded to ‘constructively'.
An Ofsted inspection last month rated the running of the home as good across all areas.
However, Croydon pointed out the inspection took place after it had decided to terminate the contract and had put in place enhanced oversight arrangements for children.
