Children's Residential Block Contract - Caring in Partnership

Plymouth City Council is looking to procure a Children's Residential Home Block Contract, known as the Caring in Partnership contract. This ITT is issued as part of the procurement process.

The Caring in Partnership residential children's home block contract was first commissioned in 2018 and has been successful in securing and growing the number of children's homes operating within Plymouth and in being aspirational for the children placed. It has also contributed to successful partnership working between placement providers and the Council and its partners, and between providers themselves. The aim of the service is to provide local homes for local children, supported by a network of good quality provision and underpinned by partnership working across agencies. We want Plymouth children and young people to remain as close to the city as possible, and to be able to support those who are placed outside their home area to safely return.

Children and young people in the care of Plymouth City Council require a range of placements to meet their needs. Among these are residential children's homes, used for the most complex children and young people who struggle to manage the relationships in a family home. The Council wants to place in children's homes based on a model of care which is as close to a family environment as possible; with a consistent staff team skilled in working with children and young people with attachment difficulties and other challenges from adverse childhood experiences.

The work specified within this tender has been split into Lots

Lot 1 - Existing provision in and near to Plymouth

Lot 2 - Homes to be added to the contract at a later date

We are seeking to contract with a range of providers, both those who already have provision in or within 10 miles of the Plymouth city boundary, and those who wish to develop such provision. The spend for 2021 / 2022 on block contracted placements within the city boundary was approximately GBP 4million.

The Council is seeking to contract a maximum of 20 beds for Lot 1.

The contract will be managed through a range of meetings between the Council and providers and partners to encourage partnership working; these will include individual contract management meetings as well as group provider forums to share good practice and collectively resolve issues.

The following local authorities are parties to the contract and will be offered the option to express an interest in any vacant beds the Council is unable to fill

Torbay Council

Devon County Council

Somerset County Council

The anticipated duration of the contract is for 3 years plus options to extend on a 1 year + 1 year basis.

For further details and to access this opportunity please visit www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk