Award

Step Up to Social Care

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

10 Jun 2025 at 08:22

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council (KCC) has awarded a contract to the University of Kent for the provision of educational services under the programme titled "Step Up to Social Care." This contract focuses on training high-calibre social workers to meet professional standards, funded by a grant from the Department for Education. The programme, aimed at addressing the educational needs for social care services, will be executed over a 14-month period starting on 1st January 2026, with services delivered both in-person and virtually across the South East of England. The contract involves a direct award under special circumstances due to the importance of continuity with the same provider, resulting in no requirement for a competitive tendering process. This decision was justified by the CPV category 80000000-4 for education and training services.

This tender can significantly contribute to business growth for large educational institutions and organisations specialising in social care training and education. The contract supports the training of social workers, addressing an essential public service need, thus providing opportunities for these institutions to expand their expertise and deliver high-quality training services. Given the substantial funding and long-term engagement, businesses with experience in educational service provision and willingness to engage in public sector partnerships would be particularly well-suited to similar future opportunities. The need for professional, qualified staff and effective implementation denotes a potential for skilled educational entities to make a substantial impact on community support services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Step Up to Social Care

Notice Description

Kent County Council has awarded a contract to the University of Kent to provide the Step Up to Social Care educational services in accordance with the requirements of Kent County Council (KCC) which includes: 1. Provision of appropriate educational services inline with the Professional Standards for Education and Training", for a maximum of 20 students to produce high calibre social workers conversant with the necessary Knowledge and Skills Statements as set out by the Chief Social Worker, utilizing both theoretical classroom-based education and practice placements. 2. To ensure methods of teaching are carried out in a hybrid approach of in person and virtual learning opportunities. 3. Create, manage and execute, in partnership with the Council and its partners, an agreed admissions process, including DBS checking. 4. To achieve and maintain any and all standard both internal and external to the Provider required to provide the services, inline with "Social Work England Education and Training Standards 2021" 5. To provide Practice Educators for a maximum of 20 students for both 70 and 100 day placements and ensure that all expectations of their role are carried out including appropriate reporting of students progression of their learning and work via their assessments of their capability at each stage; 6. To undertake the programme within 14 months. 7. To ensure that the services are provided by appropriate, qualified staff at all times. 8. To provide all appropriate, agreed and otherwise necessary and reasonably expected student support services. 9. To provide all agreed and other reasonable required reports 10. To maintain the minimum service levels. This services will be delivered to the Kent County Council and Medway Council, delivering social worker training that will produce qualified social care workers for both Councils. KCC as lead is commissioning services for both Councils. The funding for the services for KCC and Medway Council is fully provided in the form of a grant from the Department for Education (DfE). The services are light touch services (CPV code 80000000-4) , and the contract is awarded by KCC to the University of Kent as a direct award given the importance of continuing the provision of these services with the same provider, as was envisaged from the outset in the original contract with the provider which reserved the right for the Council to procure additional repetitions of similar training for additional cohorts from the Provider in the event that additional funding was forthcoming from the DFE. DFE funding has since been obtained and is being utilised to commission these repeat similar services.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-bc9ef04a-7ef9-4f6b-a029-b55f4853e692
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d13c9e2c-7f5f-43eb-9724-3d3bc18a95e2
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Other - Direct Award under special clause with the previous step up to social care contract due to the importance of continuing the provision of the service.
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£231,462 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£231,462 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Feb 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 1 Mar 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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