Social work services

Tender description

This advert is not for a new opportunity. The contract for this service was awarded in 2017, under a light touch regime. This is a 30 day notice to notify providers about the modification of the contract. Information about the contract: The service supports Young Carers by providing professional support, advice, and assistance to children and young people who have caring responsibilities, and providing advice and guidance to professional staff and parents about the needs and issues in relation to young carers. This includes facilitating breaks for children and young people with caring responsibilities from the caring tasks, including offering opportunities for them to partake in activities outside their homes, and by the provision of a weekly activity based group. It also consists of a family link worker whose role is to assess young carers and their families, attend Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings as appropriate, and liaise with outside agencies to ensure that young carers receives an appropriate package of support. Due to budgetary pressures, Stockport Council wishes to modify the contract by increasing the overall value of the contract by 34.6 % for over the lifetime of the contract until 31 March 2023 (when the contract ends). The main reasons for the budget pressures are: • increasing demand for the young carers service in Stockport; • increase in activity and residential costs; • increase in transport costs, getting young carers to and from activities; • a significant reduction in external grant income; • an increase in salaries for cost of living. A change of service provider would cause significant inconvenience and duplicate expense, given that the original contract cannot be terminated. A change of provider will also disrupt relationships with young carers.