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East Midlands Children's Improvement Adviser (CIA) with notice

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

05 Oct 2026 at 16:47

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

05 Oct 2026 at 16:44

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA), working through the Local Government Association’s children’s services leadership programme, is commissioning an East Midlands Children’s Improvement Adviser. The adviser will support councils and their corporate and political leaders, particularly in children’s social care and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The role includes building relationships with councils and regional improvement and innovation alliances, understanding service needs, helping develop and deliver improvement strategies, and providing constructive challenge. The adviser will identify and support councils at risk of failure, coordinate with other improvement advisers, help commission additional expertise and share good practice. The work is a combination of children’s services improvement advice and consultancy, delivered for councils in the East Midlands.

The buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. The tender set an enquiry deadline of 15 October 2026 at 16:00 UTC and a bid deadline of 19 October 2026 at 16:00 UTC. The services are scheduled to run from 2 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, with an option to extend for up to one year. The fixed daily rate is £700 excluding VAT, with reasonable travel and accommodation expenses reimbursed under LGA policy. Up to 60 days per year, pro rata, are available through the scheduled completion date; the stated maximum contract value is £42,000 excluding VAT, pro rata. There is one lot. Evaluation covers capability, relevant skills and experience, regional relationships, working in a political environment and approach to delivery.

This opportunity is aimed at an experienced children’s services leader who can advise councils on service improvement and work credibly with senior officers and elected leaders. Recent experience as a statutory Director of Children’s Services is required. Strong regional relationships are central: the adviser must build trust with councils and corporate and political leaders, and work with regional improvement and innovation alliances. Suppliers should be able to assess children’s services needs, develop practical improvement strategies, offer constructive challenge, support councils at risk of failure and coordinate specialist capacity. Experience spanning children’s social care and SEND, political environments, commissioning expertise and sharing effective practice will align with the stated requirements. The work is a single-adviser regional engagement with a capped allocation of working days, suiting an individual consultant or a supplier able to provide the required senior-level expertise.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

East Midlands Children's Improvement Adviser (CIA) with notice

Notice Description

The LGA delivers a programme of children's services leadership support to councils and corporate and political leaders. To support delivery of the LGA's programme of children's services leadership support to councils and corporate or political leaders through provision of associate support to councils, specifically (but not exclusively) in children's social care and SEND. Bidders must have had recent experience as a statutory Director of Children's Services The East Midlands regional Children's Improvement Adviser will be required to: Work closely with the LGA children's improvement advisors who focus on SEND and corporate leadership to ensure a coherent offer of support. Build a wider understanding of the LGAs improvement support to ensure a coherent and co-ordinated offer to councils. Develop strong relationships with councils and corporate and political leaders in a region to build a clear understanding of need in children's services, to support leadership, identify innovative solutions, broker improvement strategies, and ensure they are delivered. Build a direct relationship with the regional improvement and innovation alliances (RIIAs) in terms of strategic planning, intervention and resources, and to provide support and challenge to the delivery of regional plans. Provide constructive challenge to local and regional approaches and priorities. Identify and support councils at risk of failure. Work with the LGA's children's improvement team to commission additional capacity and expertise to improve services for children. Ensure best practice and learning is shared. (Greater detail of the Services are set out in attached draft contract in Appendix 2). Contract dates: The date for commencement of the Services is: November 2026 The date for completion of the Services is: 31 March 2027, with the option to review and extend for an additional 1 year Price payable: This Purchaser will pay a daily rate of PS700 excluding VAT, which is fixed. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses will also be paid in line with LGA policies. Up to 60 days per year (pro rata) will be allocated up to the completion date of 31 March 2027. This represents a maximum annual contract value of PS42,000 (exclusive of VAT), pro rata. To apply: To submit a bid please find link below to the LGA procurement platform, you will need to register an account first (see bottom link 'Register'). With any navigational or uploading issues please contact the platform's help team Email: support@panacea-software.com Telephone: 0207 976 0116.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Contract may be extended at Purchaser's discretion for up to 1 year

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07811e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093995-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

85321000 - Administrative social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£42,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£42,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
19 Oct 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 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
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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