---
title: "Higher Education Provider for the Step Up To Social Work Programme"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2ddb6696-208e-4396-8a36-1314f6810963"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ddb6696-208e-4396-8a36-1314f6810963"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ddb6696-208e-4396-8a36-1314f6810963.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ddb6696-208e-4396-8a36-1314f6810963.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2023-07-27"
---

# Higher Education Provider for the Step Up To Social Work Programme

Buyer: WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2ddb6696-208e-4396-8a36-1314f6810963

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## Summary

The Wirral Borough Council, acting as the lead local authority for the Learn Together Partnership, has awarded a contract for the provision of a Higher Education Provider for the Step Up To Social Work Programme. The contract, valued at £980,028 GBP, is for the delivery of a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. The procurement stage was an open procedure, with the tender period ending on 3rd May 2023. The contract period is from 1st August 2023 to 31st March 2027. Edge Hill University is the awarded supplier for this contract.

This tender presents an opportunity for Higher Education Institutions with experience in delivering postgraduate social work programmes to participate in a significant educational initiative. Businesses in the adult and other education services industry category would find this tender suitable for growth opportunities. The procurement method being an open procedure allows for fair competition, ensuring a transparent selection process for potential bidders looking to engage with the Wirral Borough Council.

## Notice

The Learn Together Partnership is seeking, through Wirral Borough Council, creative and innovative tenders for the effective delivery of the learning outcomes of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. The successful tenderer will have current experience of delivering a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and is capable of delivering this programme in line with the 15 month timescales given above. A curriculum outline must be completed for the Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work must be completed by all tenderers.\r Wirral act as the lead LA for the Learn Together Partnership (RP), we will be submitting our bid for cohort 8 of the Step Up To Social Work Programme, after 7 previous successful cohorts we have completed.\r The Step Up to Social Work programme provides an accelerated entry route into social work for high-achieving graduates and career changers. The programme has successfully trained over 2000 social workers since 2010. Step Up to Social Work is delivered through the development of a work-based 14-month postgraduate diploma programme, led by groups of local authorities working in Regional Partnerships (RPs) who contract the learning element with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Award of the diploma enables candidates to apply for registration as a qualified social worker. The scheme targets high calibre individuals who already have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people or adults who want to train as social workers\r We are looking for a HEI provider to deliver to academic aspect of the programme.\r This contract will run year to year as the programme is only 15 months long, but we may wish to extend up to 5 years. Cohort 8 is due to begin January 2024 and will come to end in March 2025. If successful with future bids, we will also host cohort 9 which will run from January 2026 and end in March 2027.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8cbfc23d-5ed9-4179-ac7c-5295e761299b |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jul 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 3 May 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 May 2023 |
| Contract period | 28 May 2023 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £980,028 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £980,028 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | BIRKENHEAD |
| Post town | Chester |
| Postcode | CH41 5AL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD74 Wirral |
| Local authority | Wirral |
| Electoral ward | Birkenhead and Tranmere |
| Westminster constituency | Birkenhead |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80400000 - Adult and other education services

## Release History

- 27 Jul 2023 at 07:21 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8cbfc23d-5ed9-4179-ac7c-5295e761299b
- 22 Mar 2023 at 11:47 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3dfb7e65-1f3f-4efe-b059-065a434d8384

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8cbfc23d-5ed9-4179-ac7c-5295e761299b
  27th July 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3dfb7e65-1f3f-4efe-b059-065a434d8384
  22nd March 2023 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.wirral.gov.uk/

## Provenance

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