Social work and related services

Tender description

Supporting strategic participation by Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Parents. On 1.9.2014, Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 took effect, offering simpler, improved and more consistent help for children and young people in England with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The new system is: — replacing statements of SEN and learning disability assessments with coordinated Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, — requiring councils to publish a “local offer” of support for children and young people with SEND, — requiring better co-operation between councils and health services to make sure services are jointly planned and commissioned, — giving parents and young people with EHC plans the offer of a personal budget, — introducing mediation for disputes, — introducing a legal right for children and young people with an EHC plan to express a preference for state academies, free schools and further education colleges. The Government is seeking a contractor to: — provide support to local parent groups (Parent Carer Forums), and their nationally representative body (the National Network of Parent Carer Forums or NNPCF), in influencing local SEND policy and service delivery through improved parental participation, — support the establishment of new Parent Carer Forums in areas where existing Forums have closed, — further develop capacity in local areas to improve participation by children and young people in local SEND policy service and delivery, and — provide a national forum for young people with SEND to influence Government policy. The estimated value of this contract is up to 1 900 000 GBP in 2018-19; and up to 1 900 000 GBP in 2019-20. Funding is inclusive of all VAT that may be chargeable.