Advocacy Services In Youth Custody

Tender description

This contract offers capable suppliers the opportunity to work with and support children and young people in youth custody. Advocacy is about representing the views, wishes and needs of children and young people to decision-makers, and helping them to navigate the system. Advocacy services should provide independent and confidential information, advice, representation, support and advocacy for eligible children and young people. The purpose of advocacy services in youth custody is to support and promote the voice of children and young people, assisting them in resolving issues relating to their welfare, care and treatment. The independence of advocacy providers from those operating youth custody establishments is a key safeguard for children. Providing advocacy services also supports statutory responsibilities and duties placed upon the YCS, including to safeguard children and young people in custody, to promote and advance equality and diversity opportunities and protect children's and human rights. Our Aims are for Advocacy Services to: Be enacted by the time of the current contract expiration, which is 30 June 2024. Align with National Standards for advocacy for children and young people and support statutory duties placed upon YCS/ MoJ for children and young people in custody - see above. Be accessible to every child and young person in each youth custody establishment in scope. Work with children and young people in custody equally across their varying needs and characteristics, promoting diversity and inclusion. There is a clear expectation that any Provider of advocacy services will strive to continuously put the wishes and needs of children and young people first and will be flexible in working with youth custody establishments to support and represent the views and voices of those children and young people. This opportunity includes the provision of advocacy services to children between the ages of 10 to 19 years old, held in youth custody - with the exception of those children and young people held in Secure Children's Homes and/ or a Secure School, which are not in scope - including in the following secure establishments: Oakhill STC: accommodating a maximum of 80 children and young people, located in Milton Keynes, Cookham Wood YOI: accommodating a maximum of 188 young people, all male, in Kent, Feltham YOI: accommodating a maximum of 150 young people, all male, in Middlesex, HMPYOI Parc Young Persons' Unit: accommodating a maximum of 60 young people, all male, in Bridgend (South Wales), Werrington YOI: accommodating a maximum of 118 young people, all male, in Stoke-on-Trent, Wetherby YOI: accommodating a maximum of 336 young people, in West Yorkshire. There are no youth custody establishments in scope in the NE, NW, EM, E of E and SW of England, or North Wales, but children and young people from these areas can and do get sent to custody. Figures and establishment information correct as of 06/03/2023 Additional information: We will be holding a virtual market awareness event 29th March 14:00 - 15:30. Please email AdvocacyServicesRetender@justice.gov.uk to be sent the details to join.