Published date: 8 March 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: 11 April 2023, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

ME14 1XQ

Value of contract

£50,000

Procurement reference

KENT001-DN649906-06017295

Published date

8 March 2023

Closing date

11 April 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 June 2023

Contract end date

1 June 2026

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Negotiated procedure

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No


Description

The Council, acting on behalf of the Kent & Medway Regional Partnership (KMRP) has submitted a bid to receive a grant from the Department for Education (DfE). Subject to agreement of the funding, the grant is to facilitate the delivery of Cohort 8 of the Step Up to Social Work programme. This Eighth cohort of the Post-Graduate Diploma Step Up to Social Work programme will offer 20 funded student places (14 from Kent and 6 from Medway).

This is part of an overall project which provides an accelerated entry route into social work for high-achieving graduates and career changers. It targets high caliber individuals who already have experience of working with children and young people and who want to train as social workers.

The Provider shall provide educational services in accordance with the requirement of Kent County Council's (KCC) invitation to tender, including but not limited to:
1. Provision of appropriate educational services inline with the "Professional Standards for Education and Training", for a maximum of 20 students to produce high caliber social workers conversant with the necessary Knowledge and Skills Statements as set out by the Chief Social Worker, utilizing both theoretical classroom-based education and practice placements.
2. To ensure methods of teaching are carried out in a hybrid approach of in person and virtual learning opportunities.
3. Create, manage and execute, in partnership with the Council and its partners, an agreed admissions process, including DBS checking;
4. To achieve and maintain any and all standard both internal and external to the Provider required to provide the services, inline with "Social Work England Education and Training Standards 2021"
5. To provide Practice Educators for a maximum of 20 students for both 70 and 100 day placements and ensure that all expectations of their role are carried out including appropriate reporting of students progression of their learning and work via their assessments of their capability at each stage;
6. To undertake the programme within 14 months;
7. To ensure that the services are provided by appropriate, qualified staff at all times;
8. To provide all appropriate, agreed and otherwise necessary and reasonably expected student support services;
9. To provide all agreed and other reasonable required reports; and
10. To maintain the minimum service levels.
This service is for a partnership between Kent County Council and Medway Council to deliver social worker training that will produce qualified social care workers. Kent holds the lead reasonability in the partnership.

Candidates who wish to be considered for this opportunity are initially required to submit a Selection Questionnaire via the Kent Business Portal no later than 11th April 2023. Documentation will be automatically issued on expression of interest on the Kent Business Portal.


About the buyer

Contact name

Alexander Whelan

Address

County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
England

Email

alexander.whelan@kent.gov.uk

Website

http://www.kent.gov.uk