Step Up to Social Work - Recommissioning HEI Project

Tender description

The procurement is a competitive tender to select a Higher Education Institution provider to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme which is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It will be conducted in accordance with the Open Procedure (Public Contracts Regulations 2015). The participating host authorities are all members of the West London Alliance (WLA) and include the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster City Council. Hammersmith & Fulham Council will lead on the procurement and award the contract on behalf of other WLA members. The successful bidder will be awarded a contract for an initial period of two years starting from June 2017, with an option to extend for periods of up to 24 months to a total of 88 months - subject to satisfactory biennial performance reviews and there being available funding from the DfE. The Step Up programme trains aspiring social workers to Postgraduate Diploma level over a 14-month course that is accredited by the Health & Care Professions Council; candidates wishing to study for a Master's degree have the option to complete the remaining credits in a further course of studies within two years of their initial enrolment.