Independent Visitors

Bedford Borough Council (the Council) is committed to the development of an effective care system, which enables those children and young people who are unable (for whatever reason) to live safely with their family of origin. The Independent Visitors service will help children and young people to achieve the best possible outcomes and support their timely move to good quality, permanent care arrangements outside the care system. Commissioned services will allow the local authority to meet its statutory responsibilities for looked after, and vulnerable, at risk, children and young people.

In this context the Council is inviting potential service providers to submit a tender for the provision of an Independent Visitors service. This contract will operate for a maximum of 5 years (3 + 1 + 1) from 01 April 2017. It is a statutory requirement that local authorities provide an Independent Visitors service for children and young people if they require one.