Youth Justice Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Support Service

Kent County Council is seeking to commission a service to help ensure children in the Youth Justice system with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) are identified and receive the appropriate support, so they are less likely to re-offend and more likely to achieve positive outcomes in life.

Kent County Council's Youth Justice Service delivers youth justice interventions and targeted support to children within the Youth Justice system and their families. Youth Justice units within the service deliver interventions and support that are designed to reduce the likelihood of reoffending as part of a whole family approach. Adolescent Early Help workers work with children who have received an Out of Court Disposal, and for whom similar interventions and support are required.

The Youth Justice Speech, Language and Communication Needs Support Service (SLCN) service will help identify children in the Youth Justice System with Speech, Language and Communication Needs and ensure they receive the appropriate support, so they are less likely to re-offend and more likely to achieve positive outcomes in life.

The SLCN service will work with internal teams to help to facilitate the delivery of direct support, develop an understanding of approaches and address communication barriers with the aim of overcoming barriers to engage in education, learning, work, and recreational activities both within the youth justice system and beyond.

Given the complex needs of the target demographic profile, the Provider will need to demonstrate their capability to deliver the required services. As such, the Provider will need to supply evidence that all staff are professionally qualified and HCPC registered to deliver SLCN services.

The Contract:

• The current two-year contract will end 30 November 2022. Funding has been secured for a further one-year contract from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
• The estimated financial envelope for the service is £94,418
• TUPE may apply to this contract.