Health and social work services

Tender description

SCC requires organisations to provide accommodation and support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from any cultural background who are aged 16 or 17 and beyond the end of Year 11 by education year group. These services will provide accommodation that is of an acceptable standard and quality and is fit for the purpose. The support provided by the Provider will work proactively with each UASC to identify and to meet their specific needs, supporting them to live semi-independently with a view to living independently by age 18 where appropriate, and to access sustainable education, employment and/or training opportunities. The Authority is conducting this procurement process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This tender opportunity falls within Schedule 3 of the Regulations (social and other specific services) and is therefore being run under the light touch regime. At the end of the procurement process the Authority will award a Framework Agreement. The aim of Lot 1 is to provide initial local accommodation and support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) when they arrive. This provision will be: — able to accommodate UASCs at very short notice when they arrive (within 24 hours), — located within Somerset County to allow Somerset County Council (SCC) social workers to carry out the initial assessment of a young person’s needs, — in a suitable location within Somerset with access to local community services, — used to “settle” UASC young people when they arrive. Placements made under Lot 1 are not time-limited. UASC may remain in this provision if it is deemed by the SCC Social Work team to meet their long-term needs. The highest volume of UASC placements are expected to be made under Lot 1. At the conclusion of the award stage, the intention is to rank the applicants in terms of their overall weighted score and to appoint the four (4) highest scoring providers to Lot 1 of the Framework Agreement. The aim of Lot 2 is to provide options for UASC to move on to a placement outside Somerset if this is deemed by the SCC social work team to better meet their needs. A variety of locations across the UK (outside Somerset County) is sought to provide a range of move on options. A significantly lower volume of placements is expected to be made under Lot 2. At the conclusion of the award stage, the intention is to rank the Applicants in terms of their overall weighted score. An unlimited number of applicants in Lot 2 will be appointed to the Framework Agreement.