Published date: 31 January 2023

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.


Closing: 27 February 2023, 3pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Recruitment services - 79600000

  • Social work and related services - 85300000

  • Social work services - 85310000

Location of contract

B69 3DB

Value of contract

£20,000,000

Procurement reference

IT-230-6562-SMBC 23010

Published date

31 January 2023

Closing date

27 February 2023

Closing time

3pm

Contract start date

1 June 2023

Contract end date

30 November 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?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

A key priority of the Trust's workforce strategy is to stabilise the workforce and build sustainable capacity for the future. A critical part of this is the Trust's ability to utilise Children's Agency Social Workers in an efficient and effective manner to meet any shortfalls in permanent staffing, and to deal with specific peaks in caseloads. The recruitment of children social workers is constantly challenging, with a shortage of sufficiently experienced candidates, a limited pipeline into the sector and it operates in a crowded geographical area. Within this it is acknowledged that agency workers play a critical part of the social care workforce to enable it to 'flex' to meet changing priorities and to fill resourcing gaps. In 2018 the Trust entered into a Master Vendor Managed Service Provider (MVMSP) Agreement for the recruitment and management of Children's Agency Social Workers. The Agreement commenced in December 2017 to run up to and including 30 November 2019. In December 2019, the Trust applied the two-year extension option within the Agreement. Following a procurement process in 2021, an 18-month contract was awarded which expires at 31 May 2023. Following internal consultation with stakeholders, a MVMSP Agreement continues to be the Trust's preferred way to recruit Children's Agency Social Workers.

More information

Links

Additional text

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No

About the buyer

Contact name

Michelle Hackwood

Address

Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DB
United Kingdom

Telephone

0121 569 2873

Email

michelle_hackwood@sandwell.gov.uk