Health and social work services

Tender description

Lancashire County Council (the ‘Authority’) is inviting tenders from suitable independent fostering agencies for the provision of fostering placements for children looked after in Lancashire. This framework will consist of 2 Lots — Standard Placements, and Step Down into Fostering. Detailed requirements are set out in the tender documents which are available on the Council's Oracle e-tendering portal. Please visit: www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement for details on how to register on the portal, log in, and view the tender opportunity as advertised in the ‘View Tender Opportunities’ section. The tender/RFQ number is also in this section. The purpose of this Framework Agreement is to support the Authority in fulfilling its sufficiency duty in relation to accommodation for looked after children and to improve the overall outcomes for these children. The Agreement will assist the Authority to improve the availability of suitable foster care placements at the right time and right location, delivering the right support, ensuring that Lancashire's Children Looked After: i. Receive the best care possible to meet their needs; ii. Are effectively supported to improve their individual outcomes; iii. Their welfare is promoted and they are effectively safeguarded. Standard Placements includes the provision of placements for age groups 0-4, 5-10, 11+, and Parent and Child placements. Step Down into Fostering placements will aim to offer targeted interventions with highly skilled and resourced foster carers for a limited time period either to support children to move out of residential care or as an alternative to going into residential care.