Published date: 7 September 2021

This notice was replaced on 7 September 2021

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 12 August 2022, last edited 16 August 2022)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

  • Vocational training services - 80530000

  • Management training services - 80532000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Value of contract

£9,900,000

Procurement reference

tender_273936/995414

Published date

7 September 2021

Closing date

5 January 2022

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 August 2022

Contract end date

31 July 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

This contract is to design, develop and deliver a cohesive leadership CPD programme to approximately 1000 social workers each contract year, that includes a range of models, and is tailored to reflect the needs and aspirations of leaders at the following stages of a social worker's leadership journey:
- Practice Supervisors; qualified social workers whose primary responsibility is to supervise the practice and decision-making of Child and Family Practitioners, and to develop the skills of individuals and teams within child and family social work services. 
- Middle Managers; qualified social workers who are managers of Practice Supervisors but are not Heads of Service. They will have operational and management responsibilities.
- Heads of Service; managers of a children's service area. The Head of Service is both operational and strategic, with each leader having oversight of a service area. This role may also be referred to as a service manager.
- Practice Leaders; qualified social workers with the day-to-day operational responsibility across the whole local system for child and family social work practice, ensuring it operates correctly and overseeing child and family frontline practitioners and leaders. Most usually, this is referred to as the Assistant Director of Children's Social Care or Director of Family Services or an equivalent position.
The programme will support those already in post working as Practice Supervisors and both in-post and aspirant Middle Managers, Heads of Service and Practice Leaders to ensure there is consistent, high-quality leadership across the sector and to develop a pipeline of leaders in the child and family social work workforce by providing a pathway to senior leadership.
The aims of the programme are:
- Equip child and family social workers with the skills they need to be effective leaders and managers throughout their career.
- Develop a pathway for leaders from Practice Supervisor through to Practice Leader level, providing a clear career journey to senior leadership.
- Empower leaders to embed their learning and development in the workplace and model high quality practice, underpinned by theory and best evidence. 
- Inspire leaders to champion the Post Qualifying Standards (PQS) for Practice Supervisors and Practice Leaders and support the development of knowledge and skills in the managers and frontline practitioners that they supervise.

More information

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Additional text

The supplier will be expected to design, develop and deliver a programme to leaders that:
- Includes an application process which is straightforward, transparent and equitable to all for both the aspirant and in-post elements of the programme.
- Has a clear assessment process to determine suitability of candidates applying to the aspirant strands of the programme. This should include endorsement by the applicant's employer. Employer endorsement would also be expected for the in-post applicant.
- Uses the Practice Supervisor PQS and Practice Leader KSS to identify candidates' development needs and meet those needs with high quality programme content that is flexible to existing local authority programmes and models of practice.
- Demonstrates join up from Practice Supervisor through to Practice Leader levels. The offer should be presented as a single programme and should not have branding for each individual level. It should be recognisable and cohesive in its content and delivery but should also meet the differing needs of each leadership level.
- Is reflective of placed-based issues and where appropriate, and in consultation with the DfE, targets where the greatest impact can be made.
- Has a mixed delivery model, that considers how people are currently working and is manageable around the pressures they are facing in the day-job and accessible to all regardless of location.
We encourage creative development and ideas for delivery that meet the programme aims as outlined in the tender documentation.
The Department is holding a market engagement event on 30 September @ 13:00 - 14:00 via Microsoft Teams to enable interested suppliers to Get a clear understanding of the Department 's requirements for PLCPD and timelines. 1-2-1 sessions available to book for week commencing 4 October. Register your wish to attend via Jaggaer.

About the buyer

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Telephone

+44

Email

DfE.CFSWLEADERSHIP@education.gov.uk