SS14 114 - Adoption Services

Tender description

<b>The Opportunity</b> Kent County Council is seeking to commission a Voluntary Adoption Agency to manage the adoption service for Kent. Further background and technical information can be found within the tender documentation. <b>Background</b> Kent County Council (the council) is the largest county council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over £900m on goods and services and a population of 1.3m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. Specialist Children's Services is located within the Social Care, Health and Well-being Directorate of Kent County Council. Specialist Children's Services are responsible for the safeguarding, health, and welfare of the most vulnerable children and young people including those aged up to 25 with learning difficulty or disabilities. The purpose of the Division is to deliver positive outcomes for Kent's children, young people and their families. The Council is seeking to commission the establishment of a new Voluntary Adoption Agency in Kent within a reasonable timeframe to provide the services outlined within the service specification, via a new VAA, which is defined as the Council's Adoption Service. The specified service comprises of five elements as follows; <b></b> The services to be directly delivered under this Agreement are:- 1. Recruitment & Assessment of Adopters 2. Adoption Panels 3. Family Finding 4. Post Adoption Support 5. Non-Agency Adoption <u>Recruitment & Assessment of Adopters</u> <u></u> To provide a recruitment and assessment service for prospective adopters, including any required support and training to enable them to be prepared for adoption. <u>Adoption Panels</u> <u></u> The mechanism for ensuring that the best interests of the child are safeguarded and that applicants are treated fairly, and that decision making is consistent. <u>Family Finding</u> <u></u> A service for identifying suitable and matching family(ies) for children so that a safe and secure environment is provided so that they can thrive. <u>Post Adoption Support</u> <u></u> Adoption support includes any support likely to be required for an adoptive placement to endure through to adulthood and is applicable to both existing and new situations. <u>Non-Agency Adoption</u> <u></u> A service regarding adoptions which have not been arranged by the local authority. <b>Expression of Interest and Tender Process</b> Expressions of interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal. In order to submit your interest in this opportunity please select the 'L..(view full details to see more)