--- title: "Commission for research into the role of seriousness in fitness to practise proceedings, with a focus on social work in England" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND" published: "2024-11-12" --- # Commission for research into the role of seriousness in fitness to practise proceedings, with a focus on social work in England Buyer: SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2662000f-c792-4009-a0d5-db66985f82a0.json) ## Summary Social Work England is seeking research services to explore the role of seriousness in fitness to practise proceedings, specifically focusing on social work in England. This open procurement process (IT-620-7-SWE10522) falls under the CPV category 73110000 (Research services). The primary aim is to gain insights into how the concept of seriousness is interpreted and applied in various aspects of fitness to practise cases, involving health and social care regulators, case law, and decision-making processes. The procurement is currently in the amendment stage with a tender period ending on 10th December 2024, and the contract period running from 13th January 2025 to 30th June 2025. The location for the delivery of services includes the United Kingdom and extends to several global regions including Europe and British Overseas Territories. This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses specialising in research and consultancy services, particularly those with experience in regulatory frameworks and professional standards within health and social care sectors. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply, presenting an excellent growth opportunity for firms to engage in high-impact regulatory research that can inform and shape professional practices in social work. The open procedure invites a competitive landscape that can benefit innovative companies ready to contribute detailed analyses and qualitative research, building a strong portfolio through this significant commission by Social Work England. ## Notice As an organisation, Social Work England is committed to learning about social work and under-standing the profession and people's experiences. We want to make a unique contribution to the evolution of regulation, inform our work as the new specialist regulator and provide a detailed picture of social work in England. Research forms a key aspect of this goal. The objective of this procurement is to explore how seriousness relates to fitness to practise proceedings and their outcomes, with a focus on social work in England. From this research we want to understand: * How Social Work England's fitness to practise outcomes to date have explored and described the concept of seriousness. * How different health and social care regulators' case law and guidance de-fine seriousness throughout their fitness to practise processes, and how this has evolved over time. * How the Professional Standards Authority approaches seriousness, and how this has evolved over time. * How seriousness is understood and interpreted within complex aspects of fitness to practise such as misconduct, dishonesty and public interest. * How decision makers understand and utilise the concepts, guidance, and case law in relation to seriousness throughout Social Work England's fit-ness to practise proceedings. * What 'human factors', such as the workplace environment, should (or should not) be considered by Social Work England when considering seriousness in fitness to practise proceedings? * We expect that the research will involve 4 workstreams: Seriousness from a regulatory perspective (workstream 1) This workstream will be focused on the understanding of seriousness by professional regulators across the UK. We envision a literature review including a review of relevant case law (including case law on misconduct), as well as published and internal guidance from Social Work England and other regulators, including previous social work regulators in England. Seriousness in professional context (workstream 2) This workstream will further explore how seriousness is understood and applied by professional regulators across the UK. We would expect qualitative data collection with health and social care regulators to explore their guidance and understanding of seriousness within the context of the professions that they regulate. Seriousness in social work fitness to practise (workstream 3) This workstream will focus on how seriousness is defined and used by decision makers, and how this has changed over time. We would expect an analy-sis of decisions from Social Work England fitness to practise cases and fit-ness to practise cases from prior regulators of social work (where available). Seriousness across the fitness to practise process (workstream 4) This workstream will focus on the level of alignment between different under-standings of seriousness, at different stages in our fitness to practise process. We... Additional information: All Potential Providers that wish to show interest in/apply for this this tender opportunity, should please visit our e-Procurement supplier portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland. The associated Invitation to Tender which you will be able to gain access to will provide full details around this procurement. Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a3da468-8b55-40cc-912c-82e3a06c1f31 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Nov 2024 | | Submission deadline | 10 Dec 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 13 Jan 2025 - 30 Jun 2025 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND | | Locality | SOUTH YORKSHIRE | | Post town | Sheffield | | Postcode | S3 8JY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield | | Local authority | Sheffield | | Electoral ward | City | | Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73110000 - Research services ## Release History - 12 Nov 2024 at 19:09 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a3da468-8b55-40cc-912c-82e3a06c1f31 - 12 Nov 2024 at 19:06 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a3da468-8b55-40cc-912c-82e3a06c1f31 - 12 Nov 2024 at 19:06 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a3da468-8b55-40cc-912c-82e3a06c1f31 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a3da468-8b55-40cc-912c-82e3a06c1f31 12th November 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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