Family contact services

Tender description

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has a legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in their area in accordance with section 17 of the Children's Act 1989 and is advertising to seek tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations to join our Framework of providers for the provision of Family Time Contact Services. Supervised contact takes place for children living away from a parent or other significant adult as a result because they are deemed to have suffered significant, or to be at risk of suffering, significant harm. It helps to promote and sustain a child's relationship with their families where it is safe to do so, or while decisions are being made about their future. The Family Time Contact Service provides supervised contact for children and their families in a safe and neutral place, using contact supervisors who support parents to develop their parenting skills in line with the child's welfare. The sessions will take place primarily in the borough in a recently refurbished building dedicated to the Specialist Intervention Service, children centres, and other venues as required. Some sessions will take place outside of the borough. Family contact sessions can range from between 1 and 4 hours per session, at varying frequencies (from daily to once or twice a year) and will be delivered by contractors, under the co-ordination of the Council's Specialist Intervention Service. The new contracts are expected to run for a period of two years commencing on 1st June 2021 and may be extended for a further year subject to funding and performance. The award of contracts will be based on the most economically advantageous tender. To achieve our vision, we will need to work with contractors who can demonstrate specific experience for this specialist area of work. Organisations who wish to express an interest must: - Have at least one-year relevant experience in delivering this type of service; - Be accredited by NACCC; or be in the process of becoming accredited; or agree to become accredited prior to contract award; and - Support Workers must be managed by a qualified and experienced Social Worker with the following: a. a Social Work England (SWE) registration; and b. has a minimum of two years child protection experience; and c. has a minimum of two years court experience, including court proceedings.