GB-Shrewsbury: COCV 069 - Independent Advocacy Service for looked after children and children on child protection plans & an Independent Visitor Service

Shropshire Council is seeking to procure a single Service Provider on behalf of itself and Telford & Wrekin Council for the provision of:

1.Independent Advocacy Service for looked after children and children on child protection plans, and 2. Independent Visitor Service for looked after children

Whilst this is a single procurement on behalf of both local authority areas, each Council will hold a contract individually with the successful provider, with a common specification covering both elements above.

The Independent Advocacy Service will: •Maintain and support existing advocates and their existing links to children/ young people. •Recruit, train, and support new advocates. •Make appropriate matches between advocates and children/ young people.

The Independent Visitor Service will offer an independent visitor service to looked after children. The Independent Visitor will make regular visits to the child and maintain other contact, e.g. telephone, email, as appropriate. The main purpose of the visits and contacts will be to befriend the child and give advice and assistance as appropriate. The contracts will commence on 1st October 2024 and will run for an initial period of 4 years with an option to extend by up to a further 3 x 12-month periods.

The maximum available annual budget will be capped for each local authority area for the initial 4 year term as follows:

Independent Advocacy Service: Shropshire - £19,500 Telford & Wrekin - £24,000 TOTAL PER ANNUM: £43,500 Independent Visitor Service: Shropshire - £19,500 Telford & Wrekin - £27,000 TOTAL PER ANNUM: £46,500

Applicants should note that it is considered that the Employee 'Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations '2006('TUPE') may apply to this contract. Applicants are advised to seek their own legal advice about the practicality of these regulations

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.