Empowering Families Mentor Service

Tender description

Southend-on-Sea City Council are gauging market interest in the Empowering Family Mentor service which, depending on provider interest and continued funding, would commence on 1st April 2023 for two years with an option to extend for a one further year. The maximum contract value is £83,983 per annum and there is likely to be TUPE transfer. Current staffing costs are roughly £60,000 per annum. It is expected the provider will deliver Empowering Families Mentor Service using community volunteers to mentor vulnerable families, as part of a whole-family approach to facilitate change, improve wellbeing, build resilience and empower families. The Council will require the successful provider to recruit, train and develop a number of specialist community volunteers to offer long term mentor support to vulnerable families. This will predominantly involve working with families where there is active involvement from children's social care and children are identified as Children in Need or with a Child Protection Plan. Lot 1: It is expected the provider will deliver Empowering Families Mentor Service using community volunteers to mentor vulnerable families, as part of a whole-family approach to facilitate change, improve wellbeing, build resilience and empower families. The Council will require the successful provider to recruit, train and develop a number of specialist community volunteers to offer long term mentor support to vulnerable families. This will predominantly involve working with families where there is active involvement from children's social care and children are identified as Children in Need or with a Child Protection Plan. The successful provider will need to ensure the volunteer mentors have the necessary commitment, personal qualities, skills and confidence to positively contribute to improving outcomes for vulnerable families. The service will contribute to achieving the following outcomes: • Improved wellbeing of the family - including areas around housing, finance, employment, education and health • Families are empowered - families are stronger, more confident and feel more in control of their lives • Families are resilient - there is a reduced need for support from specialist services, including children's social care The current service provider has a number of experienced volunteers who may not transfer to volunteer for another service provider, therefore any new service provider will need to ensure they have volunteers available to provide the service from 1st April 2023.