PROVISION OF ADVOCACY, INDEPENDENT VISITORS AND RETURN FROM MISSING FROM CARE INTERVIEW SERVICE

The Isle of Wight Council invites Tenders from suitably qualified providers for the provision of Advocacy, Independent Visitors and return from missing from care interview service. The contract is to run from 1st February 2016 for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for a further period of up to 2 years at the sole discretion of the Council.

The Council is looking for an organisation to provide the following services: ? An effective Advocacy Services for children and young people making a complaint under the duty of the Children Act 1989. To provide an advocacy service to vulnerable children at risk of significant harm including representation at Child Protection case conferences. ? Independent visitors for children looked after by a local authority under the duty of the Children and Young Person?s Act 2008. To provide an Independent Visitor scheme to children in care. ? Independent return interviews for children missing from care in adherence with the statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care dated January 2014. To provide independent return interviews for children missing from care. ? To provide independent and confidential information, advice, representation, advocacy and support for Children in Care (C.I.C) and Care Leavers aged between 5 and 24 years and to Children in Need (CIN) supported by the Isle of Wight Council. To support them through the complaints and representations process and to help them to participate in decision making and other processes that affects their lives.

The expected allocated budget for these services is in the range of ?40,000 to ?60,000 per annum. The decision has been taken to disclose the range of annual budget for the services and ask that tenderers demonstrate how they can deliver the services within this range. The Council is unable to consider any submission that does not come within this figure; however, tenderers are able to submit under the allocated budget range.

Additional information: The closing date for receipt of Tenders is 14:00Hrs on 9 November 2015.

To download the Tender documentation, please click on the link below and either log in or register your company first, and then log in:

https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=a88b21e9-4f6b-e511-80f3-000c29c9ba21

The registration process is free, simple and full instructions on how to do this are available on the South East Business Portal.

Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive a username and password via email. When you log on for the first time you will be prompted to change your password.

Please note however that if your company has already been registered, your application will be rejected to avoid duplication and additional service users will need to be set up on the existing account. There is no cost to you for registering your company.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 which came into force on 01.01.2005 applies to the contracting authority. If any Tenderer considers that any information supplied by them is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity specified. In such cases the relevant material will, in response to FOI requests, be examined in light of exemptions provided for in this act. n/a