Award

North Northamptonshire Council - North Northamptonshire Council - Supportive Steps - Early Parenting and Child-Parent Relationship

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Oct 2025 at 10:00

Tender

10 Jul 2025 at 14:43

Summary of the contracting process

The North Northamptonshire Council has completed the procurement process for their "Supportive Steps" service, aimed at enhancing early parenting and child-parent relationships. The procurement falls under the health and social work services industry category and is located in the UK, specifically in the Corby region of North Northamptonshire. The procurement followed an open procedure and was awarded to FAMILY ACTION on 10th October 2025, with the contract expected to commence on 1st January 2026 and continue until at least 31st December 2027. This service emerges from a successful pilot project, focusing on interventions to support parents and children, particularly in relation to perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationships. Key dates included in this process were the tender period ending on 7th August 2025 and the standstill period concluding on 21st October 2025.

This tender offers substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in health and social services, particularly those focused on family support, mental health, and relationship-building programmes. Companies with experience in providing evidence-based programmes targeting early parenting challenges, perinatal mental health, and child-parent relationships will find this opportunity particularly well-suited to their operations. The 36-month service contract, with potential extensions, supports the business's long-term planning and engagement with community health initiatives. Additionally, entities classified as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), given their involvement in similar past projects as exemplified by the awarded supplier, FAMILY ACTION, are ideal candidates to harness the service's broader community impact goals.

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Notice Title

North Northamptonshire Council - North Northamptonshire Council - Supportive Steps - Early Parenting and Child-Parent Relationship

Notice Description

North Northamptonshire Council (hereafter referred to as the "Council") wishes to invite Tender Responses for a 2 + 1 year Service to support early parenting and child-parent relationships. This service builds upon the two-year test-and-learn pilot, Supportive Steps, which Family Action has successfully delivered as part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme. Initially commissioned in June 2023, the Pilot aimed to support parents with early parenting within the 1001 critical days, enhance parent-infant relationships, and provide early intervention for mild to moderate perinatal mental health challenges and parent-infant relationship difficulties. During the pilot phase, the service supported more than 150 families through targeted and universal interventions focusing on integrated, evidence-based parenting programmes and peer support. Given the success of this approach, we are now transitioning from a test-and-learn phase to a longer-term model. This next phase will embed key learnings from the pilot and align with North Northamptonshire's broader early intervention strategy, ensuring continuity of support while enhancing service effectiveness The Service will provide early parenting and child-parent relationship support for mothers, fathers, and co-parents with children under two years old, including children up to the age of five, to engage in evidence-based programmes, e.g., the Solihull Approach.

Lot Information

Lot 1: Parenting Support

The 'transition to parenthood' refers to a period of normal psychological and social changes associated with pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby, which may be stressful. All parents, but first-time parents, should be offered the opportunity to attend antenatal education classes that include modules aimed at preparing parents for these psychological and role changes. Parenting education programs can help improve communication skills between parents and children, resulting in a better understanding between family members. It also encourages nurturing behaviour and increases parents' knowledge of child development and communication styles. North Northants acknowledges that expecting parents with complex social factors may have additional needs. These parents require enhanced access to care through maintained antenatal care, evidence-based parenting support and accurate advice and information for mothers and families to make informed decisions. The Service will deliver evidence-based parenting programmes that prepare expecting mothers, parents and their partners for labour, birth, and the immediate postnatal period to support the transition to parenthood. This form of social support should be responsive to the priorities of participating parents. Interventions should address the transition to parenthood, relationship issues, the preparation for new roles and responsibilities, and problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. In addition to the topics covered in traditional antenatal education (e.g., birth, physical changes in pregnancy). The Service will deliver intensive support for expectant mothers, parents and those with babies from conception who need targeted evidence-based parenting interventions. The Service will provide access to Family Hubs and other specialist services according to the family's needs and situation to improve outcomes for the whole family. The Service will provide opportunities for mothers, fathers, and co-parents to meet parents with similar experiences in community settings. The support will offer the chance to socialise and share parenting techniques, skills and knowledge. Children and parents will have more opportunities to get outside and attend regular groups that will provide stability, consistencies and the prospect of making friends.

Renewal: The Council proposes to enter into one (1) Contract for an initial period of 24 months with the preferred Potential Supplier, with an option to extend for 12 months, making 36 months in total. This is subject to further funding from DFE (Department for Education) Family Hub funding.

Lot 2 - Perinatal Mental Health and Child-Parent Relationship Support

The pandemic has contributed to increased rates of mental illness among pregnant and new mothers in the UK. The lack of support during the intrapartum period due to changes to service provision are associated with increased stress, depression, and anxiety. This includes service changes such as introducing digital healthcare and attending antenatal appointments without partners or loved ones. Although the long-term implications are largely unpredictable, the prevalence of perinatal mental health problems is high. Estimates suggest that around 20% of women will develop a mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis, in the perinatal period. (Cambridge University, 2023). North Northants acknowledges the importance of the quality of the parent-child relationships and parenting on emotional well-being, social development, and adult mental health and well-being. Infant mental health describes the social, emotional, and cognitive brain development in the first two years of life. Positive infant mental health is created and supported primarily through the development of positive early relationships between the baby and key caregivers. Maternal mental health problems and mental illness can significantly impact infant mental health and early attachment. Women experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, or distress during pregnancy may struggle to develop a bond with the growing baby. The Service will deliver evidence-based antenatal and postnatal support programmes for mothers, fathers and co-parents. Parents will have access to advice and support on perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationships in the community, working holistically to connect families to vital support where needed. The Service will provide emotional and practical support to families where a parent struggles with their well-being or is at significant risk of developing mild to moderate mental health issues. This could include a diagnosis such as anxiety and depression during pregnancy and the first two years after birth. The Service will support access to Family Hubs and other specialist services according to the family's needs and situation to improve outcomes for the whole family.

Renewal: The Council proposes to enter into one (1) Contract for an initial period of 24 months with the preferred Potential Supplier, with an option to extend for 12 months, making 36 months in total. This is subject to further funding from DFE (Department for Education) Family Hub funding.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055d1e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064077-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£478,950 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£478,950 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£478,950 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
7 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@northnorthants.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CORBY
Postcode
NN17 1QG
Post Town
Northampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF25 North Northamptonshire

Local Authority
North Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Lloyds
Westminster Constituency
Corby and East Northamptonshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FAMILY ACTION

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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