Services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals

Tender description

The Ministry of Justice has procured children's rights and advocacy services to children and young people held in the Youth Secure Estates within England and Wales. All young people between the age of 10 to 18 would be able to access independent children's rights and advocacy services to support their period in custody and to understand and exercise their rights. The service will support young people who struggle to speak on their own behalf and to enhance their ability to do so by themselves in the future. Access to these services for young people is particularly important during periods of vulnerability and crisis. The provider works with vulnerable young people between the age of 10 to 18, supporting them during their time in custody and aiding them to better understand and exercise their rights. The service is underpinned by five intended outcomes, these are: — children and young people in STCs and YOIs are able to identify and freely access independent children's rights and advocacy services, — children and young people in STCs and YOIs are provided with the skills to enable them to advocate for themselves and are supported at every opportunity to do so. — children and young people in STCs and YOIs, who have complex needs and are unable or not wishing represent themselves, are supported, — the voice of children and young people in STCs and YOIs is heard in particular at key periods where the service provider has been made aware of those who are vulnerable and in crisis, through access to proactive children's rights and advocacy services, — raising awareness of the issues facing children and young people in custody in order to promote resolution and prevention at a local and systemic level. The provider of children's rights and advocacy services will strive to continuously put the needs of the young people and to be flexible in responding to the demands of those young people. This contract includes the provision of children's rights and advocacy services to young people between the age of 10 to 18 held in custody, with the exception of those children and young people held in Secure Children's Homes which is not in scope, including in the following secure establishments: — Oakhill STC: accommodating a maximum of 80 young people, located in Milton Keynes, — Rainsbrook STC: accommodating a maximum of 76 young people, located in Warwickshire, — Medway STC; accommodating a maximum of 67 young people, located in Kent, — Cookham Wood YOI; accommodating a maximum of 188 young people, all male, in Kent, — Feltham YOI; accommodating a maximum of 180 young people, all male, in Middlesex, — Werrington YOI; accommodating a maximum of 118 young people, all male, in Stoke-on-Trent, — Wetherby YOI; accommodating a maximum of 336 young people, all male, in West Yorkshire.