Higher education services

Tender description

Westminster City Council, the lead member of a group of 8 local authorities in the West London Alliance (WLA), intends to put out to competitive tender a contract for a competent Higher Education Institution (HEI) provider to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme — an initiative funded by the Department for Education. The programme trains aspiring social workers with the aim that they will have attained a postgraduate diploma at the end of the 14-month course. Candidates will then have the option of completing the remaining credits in an advanced course of studies over 2 months to obtain a Master's degree in Social Work, and WLA members will award a further bursary to eligible postgraduates to do so. This arrangement enables the contracting authorities to work much more closely with the HEI provider and allows a significant degree of employer input into course design and content than is normally possible which, in turn, ensures that the training answers local needs. It also ensures that councils reap the benefits of a well-trained, stable workforce in areas which are sometimes difficult to recruit to, as candidates are committed to a 2-year contract with their host authority after they qualify. For the students, there is the reassurance of employment when they graduate. The WLA partners are putting out to competitive tender in January 2017 for a responsive and innovative HEI provider to whom it is proposed to award a 6-year contract, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability, to be reviewed biennially. The successful bidder will be expected to work within all applicable legislation in regard to children social work. The contract will begin operating in May 2017. A Market Engagement Event is planned for 27.7.2016 and academic institutions which are interested in attending the event are invited to contact Westminster City Council at the address given above.