This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

28 Sep 2026 at 14:34

PlanningUpdate

26 Sep 2025 at 13:10

Planning

06 Aug 2025 at 09:39

Summary of the contracting process

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking multiple providers for a community support framework for children and young people with disabilities, complex health needs, or at risk of entering or already in care. Services include short breaks at home or in the community, planned support such as mentoring and structured activities, edge-of-care interventions, and urgent interim help. Some packages involve personal care, complex care or behaviour management; others exclude personal care. Urgent support may be needed on the same or next day. The framework is intended to stabilise children and families whose needs require statutory intervention. Services will be delivered for children in Stoke-on-Trent and may also support children in other parts of the country. The Council will manage the framework and place work through call-off agreements.

The Council invited offers through an open procedure for a framework divided into seven lots: non-CQC short breaks; CQC-registered short breaks; complex-needs short breaks; planned intervention; non-CQC urgent short-term support; CQC-registered urgent support; and CQC-registered urgent support for complex needs. The published estimated total is £20.4 million excluding VAT (£24.48 million including VAT). Each lot has its own estimated value. The stated contract period is 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2035. Enquiries were due by 12 November 2026 at 12:00, and tenders by 13 November 2026 at 20:00. The stated award decision date is 18 December 2026. Evaluation for every lot weights quality at 70% and price at 30%.

The opportunity is suited to providers experienced in supporting children and families with disability, special educational needs, care-related risks and complex support needs. Organisations can target the lots matching their services: some accept providers without Care Quality Commission registration where personal care is excluded, while other lots require CQC registration for personal care, complex care or behaviour management. Providers of short breaks need to deliver activities in homes or community settings; planned-intervention providers need capabilities such as positive behaviour support, mentoring and structured activities. Urgent-support providers must be able to arrange interim provision on the same or next day after a need is identified. The framework seeks multiple providers and uses call-off agreements, with quotes submitted at tender stage used to benchmark call-offs. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable for the non-CQC short-break lot.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Community Support Framework - CAFS/2025/290

Notice Description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is undertaking a procurement exercise for a Community Support Framework, for children living within Stoke-on-Trent and for children who may be supported in other areas of the country. The Council wishes to source multiple providers to deliver the services. The services will stabilise children and families who have support needs that require statutory intervention. The cohorts of children will be those with disabilities and those on the edge of care or who are in care. Service areas include Short Break packages, and outreach/wrap around support, and urgent support required within 24-48 hours, complex support. The Framework will be managed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council who, through a series of call-off agreements, will engage, collaborate and work with organisations to deliver a broad range of these services. 58,305 children and young people live in Stoke-on-Trent, and 8,703 children and young people have Special Educational Needs. 455 Children and young people with SEND are known to social care, and 249 with an EHC Plan are known to social care (Stoke-on-Trent SEND Strategy 2024-2028).

Lot Information

Lot 1a - Short Breaks: Non-CQC

Provision of Short Breaks for children with disabilities, delivering activities in the home or community. Personal care is excluded. CQC registration is not required.

Lot 1b - Short Breaks: CQC

Provision of Short Breaks for children with disabilities, delivering activities in the home or community. Personal care may be required. CQC registered provision is required.

Lot 1c - Short Breaks for Complex Needs: CQC

Provision of Short Breaks for children with disabilities with complex health needs and/or requiring high-hour packages. CQC registered provision is required to deliver complex personal care and/or behaviour management associated with assessed needs.

Lot 2 - Planned Intervention

Planned Intervention including positive behaviour support, mentoring, structured activities, and edge-of-care interventions.

Lot 3a - Urgent Short Term: Non-CQC

Urgent short-term interim provision for children and young people (including those with disabilities), required on the same or next day following identification of need. Personal care is excluded. CQC registration is not required.

Lot 3b - Urgent Short Term: CQC

Urgent short-term interim provision for children and young people (including those with disabilities), required on the same or next day following identification of need. Personal care may be required. CQC-registered provision is required.

Lot 3c - Urgent Short Term & Complex Needs: CQC

Urgent short-term interim provision for children and young people (including those with disabilities), required on the same or next day following identification of need. CQC-registered provision is required to deliver complex personal care and/or behaviour management associated with assessed needs.

Planning Information

The 0-25 Commissioning Team would like to invite providers to attend an upcoming online engagement event on Thursday 21st August 2025 14:00-15:00 to discuss this opportunity further. To book your place, please contact CSC.CommunitySupport@stoke.gov.uk with the following information: Name, Provider Name, Telephone Number and Email Address and reference 'Community Support Framework Market Engagement Event' in the subject.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058222
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091481-2026
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

85120000 - Medical practice and related services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

85320000 - Social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,400,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£17,520,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 Nov 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
7 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2035 Over 5 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
Stoke-on-Trent City 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
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode
ST4 1HH
Postcode Area
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Delivery Location
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent

Local Authority
Stoke-on-Trent
Electoral Ward
Hartshill Park & Stoke
Westminster Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent Central

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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