Tender

Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

05 Feb 2026 at 15:58

PlanningUpdate

27 Nov 2025 at 15:48

Planning

27 Nov 2025 at 15:41

Planning

26 Jun 2025 at 14:21

Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council, in conjunction with Suffolk County Council, is soliciting bids for a comprehensive framework titled "Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services". This procurement, primarily in the health and social work services sector, is designed to offer essential services to adoptive and kinship families across the regions of Essex and Suffolk. The scope includes training, therapeutic interventions, and specialist assessments, which are mandated under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance of 2024. The open procedure currently in the tender stage is valued at £4,800,000 and runs from 1st July 2026, with a possibility of extension until 30th June 2030. The tender closes on 9th March 2026, followed by the award period ending on 30th April 2026.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for companies experienced in delivering health and social work services. It targets small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) interested in framework agreements and providing specialised support to adoptive and kinship families. By participating, businesses can establish or expand their presence in the public sector, leveraging their expertise to provide training, therapeutic interventions, and assessments targeting emotional and behavioural needs in children and families affected by early life trauma. The competitive call-off process within the framework allows businesses to tailor their services to meet specific family requirements, offering an expansive platform for service delivery and capacity building in the East of England regions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services

Notice Description

Essex County Council and Suffolk County Council is seeking to procure a new framework for the provision of Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide these services as outlined in the Children and Families Act 2014, and in the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance published in October 2024. The framework will meet this duty by providing adoptive and kinship families access to therapeutic services, assessment services and training to assist both children and adults to deal with the long-term effects of abuse, and trauma across Essex County Council and Suffolk County Council. The framework will be for an initial period of three (3) years and there will be an option to extend the framework for up to one year. The framework will have the following 3 Lots to support adoptive and kinship order families: * Lot 1 Training - To enable parent/carers to develop their skills to support their children effectively meet their full potential. * Lot 2 Therapeutic Intervention- To address emotional and behavioural challenges for children and their families stemming from negative early life experiences. * Lot 3 Specialist Assessments- To assess and identify a child's support needs that will enable the and subsequent planning to meet those needs. The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.

Lot Information

Training

Lot 1 - Training - to enable parent/carers to develop the skills to support their child(ren) effectively to meet their full potential.Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.

Renewal: The Authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Term by a further period or periods of up to twelve (12) months (the "Extension Periods")

Therapeutic Intervention

Lot 2 - Therapeutic Intervention - to address emotional and behavioural challenges for children and their families stemming from negative early life experiences.Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.

Renewal: The Authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Term by a further period or periods of up to twelve (12) months (the "Extension Periods")

Specialist Assessments

Lot 3 - Specialist Assessments To identify the child's support needs and requirements. Providers will be ranked based on price and quality as indicated in the procurement documents.

Renewal: The Authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Term by a further period or periods of up to twelve (12) months (the "Extension Periods")

Planning Information

Essex County Council invites you to attend a market engagement event to update you on the future of adoption and kinship specialist support services. Date: 08/12/2025 Time: 10:30 - 12 Location: Microsoft Teams In this session we will: • Share details of the upcoming procurement process and the new framework structure • Explain the changes and adaptations we've introduced to improve service delivery and flexibility • Gather feedback to refine our requirements To reserve a place or express interest if you are unable to attend, please confirm on behalf of your organisation by emailing Isabelle.clarke@essex.gov.uk and jake.berridge@essex.gov.uk with the following details: • Organisation name • Name(s) of attendee(s) • Contact email address RSVP by Friday 5th December at 12 noon. We look forward to your participation and valuable input.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05545d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010627-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,800,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Feb 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
9 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
12 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

Contact Name
Isabelle Clarke
Contact Email
isabelle.clarke@essex.gov.uk, procurementbusinesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC, TLH3 Essex

Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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