Independent Counselling Service (For the birth parents and other relatives of children with an adoption plan.)

Nottinghamshire County Council are seeking to procure a provider to offer an Independent Counselling Service for the birth parents, and other relatives, of children with an adoption plan. National Minimum Standards for Adoption requires that "birth parents will have access to a support worker independent of the child's social worker from the time adoption is identified as the plan for the child". In most cases this will be once the Agency Decision that the child should be placed for adoption has been made. However, birth parents who are considering relinquishing a baby may be offered independent counselling as soon as they request adoption. The council has to date offered this service via an independent organisation and this tender is a re-commissioning of that service. The scope and nature of the services required by the Council are set out in more detail in the Specification. The contract duration will be for an initial term of three years, with an option to extend annually for a further two years. This service is subject to an Affordability Cap of £37,500 per annum. Bidders will be required to price their offer within the cap.