CYP - Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Service Framework (RFQ 10888282)

This procurement is to commission Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Duty Service Framework. The local authority currently needs to facilitate capacity in the mainstream social work teams to clear a backlog of recording work and provide up to date training to qualified social workers and their managers.

LCC is sourcing providers as part of its Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Service Framework to undertake its statutory responsibilities as defined by the Children Act 1989. Service Providers will act in accordance with Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board's multi agency procedures, the Lancashire Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol. Through the Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Service Framework, qualified social workers will undertake statutory responsibilities on behalf of LCC.

The primary aims of the service are to:

• Undertake statutory responsibilities as defined by the Children Act 1989 on behalf of LCC.
• Act in accordance with the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board's multi agency procedures.
• Act in accordance with the Lancashire Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol.
• Undertake child and family assessments and section 47 enquires and provide intervention and support up to and including the development of child in need, children in need of protection and children looked after plans.

An immediate start to deliver the Services is required. Service Providers must have completed at least 1000 assessment/referral cases in each of the last two years as a managed service offering in delivery of contracts with comparable primary aims to these Services.

The Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Service Framework, will be tendered as a Lancashire/Countywide initiative, and appointed Service Providers will be expected to deliver services across all reaches of Lancashire inclusive of the following geographical areas:

• Lancaster
• Fylde & Wyre
• Preston
• Chorley, South Ribble
• West Lancashire
• Burnley
• Pendle
• Rossendale
• Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

Additional information: Please note that this procurement process is being conducted on an expedited basis in response to an urgent requirement to improve availability of services to vulnerable service users. The Framework Agreement will commence on 1st March 2016 for five months and continue for a total period not exceeding four years.

The initial call-off Contract will have a value of up to £1.8m over a five month period. Thereafter future call-off Contract(s) may be commissioned up to a maximum of 43 months, and will not exceed a total value of up to £3.6m. The Council will at all times be able to be flexible around the value and term over which it calls-off services, without an obligation to make any call-off contracts for services.

Please see tender documentation for further information.