Junior ISA scheme and Child Trust Funds for children in care and care leavers.

Tender description

The DfE will be inviting tenders for a contractor to manage the Junior ISA (JISA) scheme, and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) for children in care (CiC) and care leavers. The JISA scheme has existed since 2011, when the Coalition Government ceased funding CTFs for all children, but established a new scheme funded and organised by the DfE, to provide children who had been looked after for 12 months with a JISA, through an initial contribution from the Government of £200. The appointed contractor will ensure eligible children and young people receive the payments due to them through this scheme: by acquiring the necessary data from LAs, opening JISAs for those children, making payments into these JISAs, and providing information about the JISAs opened and payments made to LAs, CiC and their carers. The appointed contractor will be managing the existing 25,800 JISAs; and also responsible for administering 13,700 CTFs of looked after children. The contract may be extended for a maximum of 2 further 1 year terms. Additional information: Organisations interested in this contract are invited to attend a call on Thursday 23rd January 2020. Please use the contact details provided to request joining details.