Provision of a Childrens Care and Support Volunteer Service

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) is advertising to seek tenders from experienced providers to deliver an externally commissioned Volunteer Service that will complement the Councils Specialist Intervention Service in-house Volunteer Offer.

The service will provide additional support and intervention to families open to Children's Care and Support and who may have a child in need plan, a child protection plan, a child with a disability or who may be looked after to prevent escalation of their circumstances leading to crisis and enable families to focus on areas included in any support plans they may have in place

The service is aimed at families of children and young people aged 0 - 17 years (up to 25 if a care leaver or if they have a disability/additional need) and their families living in Barking and Dagenham.

The Service will provide and co-ordinate a high quality and effective support, delivered by suitably trained staff and volunteers, who will work on achieving outcomes identified by social workers and the Council's Specialist Intervention Service (SIS).

The Service will focus on four key areas:

- Short Hosting stays for children: Volunteers will offer planned (or unplanned in some circumstances) short term, overnight respite or emergency hosting for an unanticipated family crisis to prevent escalation.

- Befriending Volunteers: Volunteers will provide a befriending/mentoring service and work alongside families to help address issues which the family may be struggling with. Volunteers will also provide befriending/mentoring services to children and young people who may also require support.

- Family Resource Volunteers: Volunteers will support families to source the provision of basic goods and services to support family life, such as food/clothes banks, baby equipment, white goods, play equipment, cleaning and gardening and professional services as well as accessing grants from charitable organisations.

- Practical Support Volunteers: Volunteers will provide families with practical skills and offer support to improve the home environment such as basic garden clearance, decorating, light cleaning, decluttering and organising and building flat pack furniture. Volunteers will also provide practical child-focused activities and advice on accessing community resources.

The service will provide support to a maximum of 150 families over the Contract period, with approximately 30 to 50 families being referred by the Local Authority each year of the Contract.

The contract will run for a period of 3 years (2+1), commencing on 1st August 2023.

The Service will need to consider TUPE arrangements for employees who are currently delivering the service.

Additional information: Tender documents available at https://lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/