Future Leaders Programme for Directors of Children's Services

In summer 2018, we announced plans to establish a system leadership programme for future and newly appointed Directors of Children's Services (DCSs). The DfE will be seeking proposals from organisations or consortia to develop, deliver and manage a programme which:

• attracts diverse participants with strong potential to progress to DCS roles and equips them with the core behaviours, skills and capacities necessary to do so, and

• supports newly appointed DCSs to develop and embed the behaviours, skills and capacities to become strong system leaders.

The contract for the Future Leaders Programme for DCSs presents an exciting opportunity to input into DfE's workforce strategy and to design, develop and deliver a national leadership programme for those aspiring to and newly appointed into DCS roles and positions. The programme will attract and nurture talented leaders, so that they have the behaviours, skills and capacities to become successful system leaders across the breadth of the DCS role.

DCSs have a professional responsibility for the leadership, strategy and effectiveness of local authority children's services and are accountable for securing the provision of services which address the needs of all children and young people, including the most disadvantaged and vulnerable and their families and carers. DCSs have a critical 'system leader' role for children and families - operating as the interface between practice, corporate and political leadership over a wide range of local authority services for children and young people. They are required to work collaboratively and create and lead effective partnerships in order to ensure the best and safe outcome for each service user.

We are looking for a supplier that will: engage with and respond proactively to the DfE's requirements and developing policy, liaise with a range of stakeholders and deliver training and support based on evidence and user research to explore and address these challenges.

The contract is expected to begin in early 2020 and will run for an initial term of 3 years (to 31.3.2023) with a clear break clause in March 2021. The approximate budget is up to 3 200 000 GBP (incl. VAT) in the initial contract period, which shall run from March 2020 to March 2023. Funding is currently committed to 2020-2021 only.