HCC - 03/16 Pre-Procurement Market Engagement for Co-Ordinates and Advocates for Family Conferencing Service

Tender description

Hertfordshire County Council (the “Council”) is carrying out pre-procurement market engagement in relation to: Co-Ordinates and Advocates for Family conferencing Service; Project Background • The Family Group Conference Service (FGCS) was initially set up in Hertfordshire in 2009 by the Council. To deliver the Family Group Conference (FGC) model of working with families. • The FGCS recognises the rights and responsibilities of families and communities to make decisions about their children and provides a framework for families to exercise this responsibility, the Family Group Conference (FGC). • The FGC offers the Council and the family a way off working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. • At the FGC it is the family who makes the plan to meet the needs of the child/young person, after first being told what concerns and issues a plan will need to address, what resources are available and what will happen if the current situation does not change. • The role of the FGCS is to provide resources including coordinators to help the family develop their own plan. Other parts of the Council help with its implementation where possible, unless it continues to place a child at risk of significant harm. • FGC’s recognise strengths within the family and it is a method of maximising the resources within that family. In maximising resources within the family, FGC's bring benefits to a child/young person who has the right to be cared for within the family environment where possible. For the Council there are obvious financial benefits in terms of the long term savings made in relation to resources saved. • The FGC Service significantly contributes to the statutory work of the Council’s Children Services, FGC’s are offered to families involved with Child Protection Conferences, Childcare Legal proceedings and other circumstances where there are concerns relating Children’s welfare. Timescales It is currently anticipated that the Council will commence a procurement process in May/June 2016, with the new service commencing in September 2016. The anticipated contract term is two years with the option of a two year extension renewable on an annual basis at the discretion of the Council. The purpose of the Council’s pre-procurement market engagement process is to allow and enable potentially interested organisations with appropriate expertise and relevant experience to:- • Outline and generate initial views/ideas around the outcomes, scope and the potential procurement strategy (i.e. with no commitment to themselves or the Council). • Engage with the Council to understand its challenges, intentions and desired outcomes. • Inform the Council of current market developments. • Enable the Council to understand how the Current Requirements could be shaped and delivered. • Explain the potential options available to the Council. The Co...