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Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service for Small Group Homes CAFS/2026/313

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 Sep 2026 at 15:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is procuring an independent Regulation 44 visitor service for its children’s small group homes in Stoke-on-Trent. The service must provide monthly independent visits to each home, in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. Visitors will carry out independent scrutiny and provide assurance and reporting on the quality, safety and welfare of children and young people living in residential care. This is a children’s social care service, classified under health and social work services. The requirement is for a provider that is separate from the homes and from the wider local authority, so it can offer objective oversight of residential care arrangements across the city.

The procurement reached tender: the council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. It comprises one lot. The deadline for enquiries was 9 October 2026 at 12:00, and the deadline for offers was 9 October 2026 at 20:00. The contract period is 2 November 2026 to 31 October 2028, with a possible renewal at the local authority’s discretion until 31 October 2029. The estimated value is £195,000 excluding VAT, or £234,000 including VAT. Evaluation is weighted 80% technical quality and 20% price. Offers may be submitted electronically.

This opportunity suits providers with qualified and experienced personnel able to act as independent Regulation 44 visitors for children’s residential care. Competitors need to understand the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and be able to conduct structured monthly visits that produce objective scrutiny, assurance and reporting. The work requires independence from both the children’s homes and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, together with the professional judgement to assess issues affecting quality, safety and children’s welfare. It is suited to organisations with sufficient capacity to maintain a regular visiting and reporting service across the council’s small group homes, and to demonstrate strong technical quality, which carries the greater evaluation weighting.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service for Small Group Homes CAFS/2026/313

Notice Description

Under Regulation 44 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, all children's homes must receive an independent monthly visit carried out by a person not directly employed by the home or the wider local authority. Stoke on Trent City Council is seeking suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver an Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service for Children's Small Group Homes located within the city. The service is required to undertake monthly Regulation 44 visits in accordance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, providing independent scrutiny, assurance and reporting to support the quality, safety and welfare of children and young people living in residential care.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: At the discretion of the local authority

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0777ca
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089755-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£195,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£195,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Oct 20262 days to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2028 1-2 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

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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