Published date: 11 July 2023

Last edited date: 14 December 2023

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 23 May 2023, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Technical support services - 71356300

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

£542,611.64

Procurement reference

tender_318404/1221959

Published date

11 July 2023

Closing date

23 May 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 October 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2025

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

Award Notice for The Advocacy 'Safety Net' Service.

The Advocacy 'Safety Net' Service will encourage local authorities to provide advocacy services in line with their statutory responsibilities, only stepping in where this proves unsuccessful. It is expected the improved national advocacy 'safety net' will also improve insight and analysis about callers to the service and the issues they raise and will gather evidence about the quality and coverage of local advocacy services. The service will use clear approaches for prioritising limited resources and engage looked after children who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The national advocacy 'safety net' is not a substitute for the services that local authorities should provide. Its role is to signpost children to locally provided services and to monitor availability. The service will maintain a dynamic picture of local provision, updated via calls to the helpline and based on work with local areas and through its networks. The service will only step in where local advocacy support continues to be denied.
The service has 3 core deliverables that the supplier will be required to deliver:
1. An advice helpline run by appropriately trained staff members who are able to respond to calls from looked after children and able to respond accordingly, identifying the best route to address concerns. The helpline should offer telephone, email, text, and WhatsApp communication options. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
2. Additional advocacy support through web-based information including 'self-advocacy tools and technology. A website should allow looked after children and care leavers to be made aware of their local advocacy provider and the relevant contact information. This should also support children where English is not their first language.
3. A database capturing the availability of local advocacy, which is accurate and kept up to date so to refer children and young people to local support. The database is held by the current provider and regular contact with all local authorities are needed to ensure information is kept up to date.

More information

Attachments

Award information

Awarded date

10 July 2023

Contract start date

1 October 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Total value of contract

£542,611.64

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)

Address

Birkenhead, CH41 1FF

Reference

Companies House number: 02722134

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

rachael6.davies@education.gov.uk