Purpose
Test search speed, suitability, explainability, provider response and administrative workload. The pilot does not replace the authority’s case-management system.
Test safer, faster placement matching before committing at scale
The pilot is commissioned and governed by a Local Authority. A small group of children’s home providers participates by invitation. CareMatch runs alongside the existing process; authorised council professionals retain full decision-making authority.
Participants
Placement officers, one commissioning lead, information governance support and a small group of verified children’s home providers.
Duration
Two weeks for setup and assurance, one week for provider onboarding, seven weeks for testing, and two weeks for evaluation and next steps.
SAFE VALIDATION PATH
Progress evidence in three controlled levels
Level 1: synthetic sandbox demonstration of workflow, permissions and matching rules
Level 2: anonymised historical referrals compared with known outcomes
Level 3: limited live referrals run alongside the authority’s existing process
No autonomous placement decisions at any level
Professional overrides and reasons are recorded in the audit history
INCLUDED WORKFLOW
What participants will do
Commissioner creates a structured referral with needs, risks and placement requirements
CareMatch applies mandatory safety gates before weighted fit
Providers respond: interested, need more information or unable to support
Commissioner compares reasons, warnings, fees, availability and start dates
Final professional decision and any override are documented
CareMatch supplies weekly reviews and a final evidence report
Privacy and end-of-pilot boundary
Start with synthetic data. Historical and live stages proceed only after agreed DPIA, data-processing terms, access controls and safeguarding routes. At completion, case data is returned or deleted under the agreed schedule, accounts are disabled if the pilot ends, and only agreed anonymised statistics are retained.