CWC23210 - Families First for Children Pathfinder [FFCP]

Tender description

The City of Wolverhampton Council [CoWC] has been selected as one of three local authorities who are Wave 1 Pathfinders. The expectation is that CoWC, alongside two other local authorities, will move into a 'test and learn phase' from January 2024 delivering services to children and their families inline with the FFCP design specification. There are four key reform strands to the pathfinder that will be delivered as a whole system transformation. * Overarching system-level reform, including multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. * Family help. * Child protection. * Family networks. Within the Child protection strand a key feature for consideration in the co-design is 'Improving parents' experiences and engagement with child protection, including through independent parental representation.' Parental representation can be provided in various forms: advocacy, peer support and mentoring schemes. The focus of the procurement process is the provision of professional independent advocacy. The role of the advocate is to ensure parents understand child protection processes and the information that is being shared with them, to help them engage with practitioners in a collaborative way; and to support them during child protection conferences ensuring they understand what is being discussed and agreed and that their voices are heard throughout the child protection process. 1 year contract with an option to extend by a further 1 year period. The extension option will only be utilised if funding is available.