This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Jul 2026 at 10:30

Award

22 Jul 2026 at 08:09

Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council has completed a procurement process for the recruitment of up to 13 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Locum Social Workers to support its Integrated Front Door (IFD) / Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) due to an immediate need arising from vacancies. The procurement, conducted via direct award, was finalised on 22nd July 2026, with a total contract value of £582,000. The contract period starts on 30th July 2026 and runs until 30th October 2026, with the possibility of a three-month extension. This opportunity is classified under recruitment services within the services category and takes place in the UKH14 region, primarily centred around Ipswich. The award was granted to Leaders in Care Recruitment Limited following an urgent procurement rationale to meet statutory deadlines effectively.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in recruitment services, particularly those familiar with the public sector social care landscape. Given the urgency and the specialised nature of the requirements, SMEs like Leaders in Care Recruitment Limited are well-positioned to leverage such contracts to expand their portfolio and establish robust connections within government frameworks. Companies that can swiftly supply qualified professionals to public authorities may find similar tenders highly beneficial for growth, as there is a marked demand for flexible and competent human resource solutions in the public service sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Recruitment of up to 13 FTE Locum Social Workers

Notice Description

Recruitment of up to 13 FTE Locum Social Workers as an interim measure to work within the Integrated Front Door (IFD) / Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) whilst permanent recruitment takes place.

Procurement Information

The IFD/MASH is holding a number of vacancies and is unable to meet its statutory deadlines for referral and assessment. The locum social workers are required as an interim arrangement whilst permanent recruitment for the positions is completed as part of the Family First model. It has not been possible to recruit the volume and quality of staff required through our internal recruitment partners, and running a competitive tender procedure would jeopardise our ability to perform at the statutory level required in a timely manner.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d067
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069073-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£582,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 30 Oct 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUFFOLK COUNTY 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
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Post Town
Ipswich
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LEADERS IN CARE RECRUITMENT

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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