Published date: 19 December 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: 22 January 2024, 4pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Guidance and counselling services - 85312300

Location of contract

WR5 2NP

Value of contract

£66,000 to £110,000

Procurement reference

IT-336-3636-WCC 00003636

Published date

19 December 2023

Closing date

22 January 2024

Closing time

4pm

Contract start date

1 April 2024

Contract end date

31 March 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

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

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

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Worcestershire Children First Fostering (WCFF) is the preferred provider of fostering placements for Worcestershire looked after children, through referral from Worcestershire Children First. Currently there are 264 approved foster carer households, caring for around 360 children. Approximately 100 of our approved foster carers live within or nearby to Worcestershire. Around 103 of our approved foster carers are kinship carers, and as such they may live outside of the Worcestershire area.

We are seeking a preferred provider of independent advice, mediation and support for foster carers who must be able to provide accessible services for approved foster carers in their local area, for example, if there was an allegation and a foster carer was required to attend a police interview, then this service would have to be made available in the locality in which the child and the carer reside. We would require Foster Carers to have access to a case worker and legal advice and support if attending a police interview.

The provider will need to be able to respond to fluctuations in the number of approved carers. For example, there are approval of temporary foster carers under Reg 24 and also foster to adopt foster carers throughout the year. We also are seeking to increase foster carer households through planned recruitment campaigns throughout the year.

We are also seeking organisational membership. WCFF operates with around 58 employed staff and around 19 fostering panel members. Each member of staff and fostering panel member needs to be able to access the organisational benefits that membership brings.
If you wish to view the documents for this opportunity please click `Express Interest`.

Following this, if you wish to apply for this opportunity please click `Opt in` which will then enable you to view and complete the Standard Questionnaire and upload the relevant documents.

After uploading all required documents and completing the questionnaire(s) please remember to press the `Submit your Return` button at the bottom of the page.

Suppliers will receive a system generated email to confirm successful submission of their return.

Any questions or clarification should be conducted via `Correspondence` through this portal.

More information

Links

Additional text

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No

About the buyer

Contact name

Deb Roe (CCO)

Address

Spetchley Road
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 2NP
United Kingdom

Telephone

01905 844896

Email

droe@worcestershire.gov.uk