Step Up to Social Care

Contract summary

Industry

• Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

South East

Value of contract

£231,462

Procurement reference

CN240250

Published date

10 June 2025

Closing date

10 February 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 January 2026

Contract end date

1 March 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Other: Direct Award under special clause with the previous step up to social care contract due to the importance of continuing the provision of the service.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

Kent County Council has awarded a contract to the University of Kent to provide the Step Up to Social Care educational services in accordance with the requirements of Kent County Council (KCC) which includes:

1. Provision of appropriate educational services inline with the Professional Standards for Education and Training", for a maximum of 20 students to produce high calibre 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

10. To maintain the minimum service levels.

This services will be delivered to the Kent County Council and Medway Council, delivering social worker training that will produce qualified social care workers for both Councils. KCC as lead is commissioning services for both Councils.

The funding for the services for KCC and Medway Council is fully provided in the form of a grant from the Department for Education (DfE).

The services are light touch services (CPV code 80000000-4) , and the contract is awarded by KCC to the University of Kent as a direct award given the importance of continuing the provision of these services with the same provider, as was envisaged from the outset in the original contract with the provider which reserved the right for the Council to procure additional repetitions of similar training for additional cohorts from the Provider in the event that additional funding was forthcoming from the DFE. DFE funding has since been obtained and is being utilised to commission these repeat similar services.

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Award information

Awarded date

10 February 2025

Contract start date

1 January 2026

Contract end date

1 March 2027

Total value of contract

£231,462

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

The University Of Kent

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About the buyer

Contact name

Alex Whelan

Address

County Hall
MAIDSTONE
ME141XQ
England

Email

alexander.whelan@kent.gov.uk