Social work and related services

Tender description

This tender seeks bids from a single supplier or consortia of suppliers to take on and improve an existing set of national advocacy services, which act as a ‘safety net’ to ensure that all looked after children and care leavers are able to access advocacy support when they need it. Local authorities have statutory responsibilities for providing advocacy support, and this service will only step in where this proves unsuccessful. The service is intended to signpost looked after children to local advocacy support and to help those who have been denied local advocacy to make representations and pursue complaints. It will be active in referring cases back to local authorities and progressing these until satisfaction. The service will also improve insight and analysis about callers and the issues they raise, and will gather evidence about the quality and coverage of local advocacy services. Further information is available at https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search Bidders should have a strong understanding of the advocacy landscape for looked after children and care leavers, and have the ability to deliver a service nationally for the duration of the contract. The closing date for bids is midday on 9.5.2017, and we may invite bidders for interview on 16 and 17 May. We expect to alert bidders to the outcome of their bid at the end of May. There will be a transition period of 1 month from 31 May to 30 June before service commencement on 1.7.2017.