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Children's services governance adviser (with notice)

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

17 Jul 2026 at 15:14

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA) is seeking up to two experienced children’s services governance advisers to support councils across the UK’s nine regions. The work supports the Local Government Association’s children’s services leadership programme and focuses on strengthening governance for effective children’s services and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) delivery. Advisers will work with elected members, senior officers, scrutiny committees, corporate parenting boards and wider system partners. Activities include governance improvement and diagnostic support, political leadership and member development, partnership governance, system leadership, network development and contribution to the LGA improvement offer. The service is development consultancy delivered through a combination of virtual and face-to-face work, with occasional evening commitments.

The process reached tender: the buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. Enquiries had to be submitted by 30 July 2026 at 16:00, and offers by 3 August 2026 at 16:00. The contract is due to run from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2027, with an option to extend until 31 March 2028 at the LGA’s discretion. One contract is planned, with a value of £39,000 excluding VAT (£46,800 including VAT). Each contract comprises up to 60 days of support. Electronic submission is allowed. Offers will be evaluated on capability, relevant skills and experience, working in a political environment, and approach to delivery. The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This opportunity suits senior children’s services professionals, governance specialists and improvement consultants with significant experience supporting governance in children’s services or wider partnership systems. Strong professional credibility and excellent political awareness are central requirements, as the adviser will work directly with corporate and political leaders, elected members, scrutiny committees, corporate parenting boards and system partners. Relevant experience may include supporting councils through significant organisational or system change, Children’s Social Care reforms, SEND reform, local government reorganisation or changing partnership arrangements. Suppliers need to provide credible advice, diagnostic and improvement support, member development, partnership leadership and network-building. The delivery model suits individuals or small specialist teams able to combine virtual and face-to-face engagement, work across councils and regions, and commit the required consultancy capacity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Children's services governance adviser (with notice)

Notice Description

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. It works on behalf of member councils to support, promote, and improve local government. The LGA delivers a programme of children's services leadership support to councils and corporate and political leaders. The LGA is seeking to appoint up to two experienced Children's Services Governance Advisers to provide specialist support to councils across the nine regions. The advisers will work with elected members, senior officers and system partners to strengthen governance arrangements that support effective children's services and SEND delivery. This will include supporting councils to respond to significant organisational or system change, including implementing Children's Social Care reforms, SEND reform, local government reorganisation, and changing partnership arrangements. To do this the advisers will undertake direct work with corporate and political leaders including scrutiny committees and corporate parenting boards. The role requires individuals with strong professional credibility, excellent political awareness, and significant experience of supporting improvement within children's services governance and/or wider partnership governance systems. Contracts will commence as soon as possible and run until 31 March 2027, with an option to extend for a further year at the LGA's discretion. Each contract will comprise up to 60 days of support and the role will involve a combination of virtual and face-to-face delivery and may occasionally require evening commitments. Service requirements: Governance Improvement and Diagnostic Support Political Leadership and Member Development Partnership Governance and System Leadership Developing networks and relationships Contribution to the LGA Improvement Offer (Greater detail of the Services are set out in Appendix 2 of draft contract and ITT held within the procurement platform) To submit, please use the below link to our procurement platform, where you'll need to 'register a new account' at the bottom of the page.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: With an option to extend for a further year at the LGA's discretion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ce17
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067910-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73220000 - Development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£39,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£39,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3HZ
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

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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