Welfare services for children and young people

Tender description

Kent County Council (KCC) is seeking to engage current and potential providers of regulated residential children's care to explore opportunities for different models of commissioning and care which could help to improve outcomes for Kent children in care. KCC has a clear ambition to make Kent a county that works for all children. KCC has a statutory duty to ensure provision of sufficient, secure, safe and appropriate accommodation for children in care and care leavers. Our sufficiency strategy (available at https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/11941/Children-in-care-sufficiency-strategy.pdf) sets out our ambition to work collaboratively and effectively with service providers and partner agencies to improve the health, welfare and educational outcomes of all Kent children in care and care leavers. We know that good quality residential care is crucial to achieving this ambition. KCC is therefore committed to improving the way that we commission residential care and the way in which we work with providers to improve the well-being, educational attainment and safety of Kent children in care. KCC is seeking to strategically commission residential care that meets the range of existing and emerging needs of our children in care. We know that the needs of children in care and therefore our requirements for residential care will change over time. We are therefore seeking to commission residential care that can adapt to meet these changing needs and any respond to changes in regulation, quality standards or best practice for the sector. Details of possible contracting models are outlined in a market engagement document available via the Kent Business Portal. To access the document, please submit your expression of interest at www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk