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Interim Operation Decker Director Capacity

Cheshire East Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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21 Jul 2026 at 16:26

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire East Council procured interim operational and strategic leadership for its children’s social care service. The requirement was for an experienced Interim Assistant Director to provide visible, decisive leadership in response to acute and sustained pressures, including periods of heightened demand and organisational risk. The postholder is responsible for the council’s end-to-end emergency response capability and for ensuring that services are delivered safely, lawfully and effectively. This is a social work services requirement, covering activity for Cheshire East Council in Cheshire. The work is suited to interim management consultancies and senior professionals with direct experience of leading children’s social care operations, emergency responses and service recovery within a public-sector setting.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition under the light-touch regime. One supplier was selected: MARION M RUSSELL CONSULTANCY LTD. The award was made on 20 July 2026 and the contract was signed on the same date. The contract period runs from 20 July 2026 to 5 November 2026. Its value is £84,630 gross, with the same amount recorded as the contract value, and it is below the applicable threshold. The requirement was not divided into competing lots; the single lot is complete. Evaluation was therefore not conducted through an open competition, and the award reflects a direct appointment under the stated below-threshold route.

This procurement demonstrates demand from Cheshire East Council for senior interim leadership in children’s social care when operational pressures and organisational risk are acute. A credible future supplier would need an experienced Interim Assistant Director or equivalent, with the authority and judgement to lead visibly through sustained demand, emergency response and service instability. Relevant capability includes end-to-end operational leadership, strategic decision-making, knowledge of safe and lawful children’s social care delivery, and the ability to maintain effective services under pressure. Specialist interim management consultancies and senior practitioners with demonstrable public-sector children’s social care experience are the closest fit. The council’s use of a direct below-threshold route also indicates the importance of trusted, quickly deployable expertise.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Interim Operation Decker Director Capacity

Notice Description

Cheshire East Council requires an experienced Interim Assistant Director to provide visible, decisive operational and strategic leadership in response to acute and sustained pressures within children's social care. The postholder will lead the council's end-to-end emergency response capability, ensuring safe, lawful and effective delivery of services during periods of heightened demand and organisational risk. The contract start date was 4 May 2026, however there was a delay with signing of the contract, FTS will not allow backdated contract start dates which has resulted in the contract start date showing incorrectly on this notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d030
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068849-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85310000 - Social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£84,630 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Jul 2026 - 5 Nov 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cheshire East Borough 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
CREWE
Postcode
CW1 2JZ
Postcode Area
Crewe
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD62 Cheshire East
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire East
Electoral Ward
Crewe Central
Westminster Constituency
Crewe and Nantwich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MARION M RUSSELL CONSULTANCY LTD

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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