Advocacy & Independent Visitors for Children

Concepts

• health and social work
• warwick
• coventry
• children
• national independent visitor services
• young people advocacy services
• independent visitor services
• children & social work act
• independent visitors
• childrens advocacy services

Location

Generally within the boundaries of Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council but also may be outside the boundaries

Description

Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council are jointly contracting for a service providing independent visitors, and independent advocacy, information, advice and support to children and young people in order to meet our statutory obligations. The service will be provided for children and young people who are receiving a service from WCC or CCC and wish to have the support of an advocate. This includes children and young people who are; • aged 4 to 18 and looked after under the Children Act 1989, s.20 or s. or 25 if they have special educational needs and/or disability • care leavers, aged 16 - 25 under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and Children & Social Work Act 2017 • subject to a family group conference or child protection conference • aged 16/17 and presenting as homeless to WCC or CCC • considering or wishing to make a complaint about the service they receive from WCC or CCC • young carers who may need support in adulthood (Care Act 2014) • young people defined as a 'Child In Need' (Children's Act 1989) within private fostering arrangements

Total Quantity or Scope

The service is to provide independent visitors, and independent advocacy, information, advice and support to children and young people. The outcomes of the service are: Be Healthy Be Safe Be Happy Be Skilled Be Heard The Advocacy service will be delivered in line with the National Standards for the Provision of Children's Advocacy Services 2023 - National Standards for the Provision of Children and Young People Advocacy Services September 2023.pdf The Independent Visitors Service will be delivered in line with the National Standards for the Provision of Independent Visitor Services 2016. National Independent Visitor Services 2016

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Indicators

• Bids should cover the whole contract.

Other Information

The contract will be for 3 years with the option to extend for a minimum of 3 years up to a maximum of 84 months at the discretion of the Council based on the contract performance of the successful applicant. The maximum end date with extensions will be 31st March 2035. During the course of the contract period the range and scope of these services may be subject to modification and variation to meet the changing needs and requirements of the Council and partners, potential changes in legislation and the changing demands placed on the Council by its customers. These changes may include (but are not limited to): - • Increases or decreases in funding - this will usually be due to reductions or additions in budget allocations as part of the Council and partners' budget setting processes, It may also be as a consequence of additional funding streams which were unknown at the time of awarding the contract but which are provided to increase the volume of services delivered. • • Changes in legislation that may for example require the inclusion of new customer groups • The identification of additional service recipients, not originally captured by the scope of the contract . Opportunities offered by emerging/ new technologies • Ongoing performance monitoring indicating a change required in allocations made for each service element from the overall funding amount Warwickshire County Council will be using its e-tendering system (CSW-JETS) for the administration of this procurement process. Providers must register with the system (if they haven't previously done so) in order to be able to express an interest in the project and download documents. The web address for CSW-JETS is www.csw-jets.co.uk (https://www.csw-jets.co.uk). Registration and use of CSW-JETS is free. If you are having trouble registering with CSW-JETS please email us at procurement@warwickshire.gov.uk