--- title: "Children's Residential Personalised Block Contracts" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2025-01-27" --- # Children's Residential Personalised Block Contracts Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-727b5026-cc1d-4168-9e0c-96109eb8aa66.json) ## Summary Essex County Council is inviting bids for the "Children's Residential Personalised Block Contracts" procurement. This tender, classified under the CPV code 85000000 for Health and Social Work Services, focuses on providing care and support for children in care within Essex or within a 20-mile radius. The tender process is at the "tender" stage, with a deadline for submissions on 11th February 2025 and the contract period commencing from 1st April 2025 and ending on 31st March 2026. The procurement method is an open procedure, and the estimated contract value ranges from £728,000 to £19,656,000. This opportunity is particularly suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. This tender presents a significant opportunity for organisations specialising in children's residential or foster care services to expand their operations within Essex. Providers are encouraged to utilise their expertise and innovative approaches to meet the diverse needs of children and young people requiring safe and supportive placements. Ideal bidders will have a registered children’s home or foster care vacancy, comply with Ofsted regulations, and aim for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding. Businesses with experience in caring for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, EHCP plans, and those who have faced neglect or abuse will be well-suited to participate in this tender and positively impact the lives of children in care. ## Notice The Council are not mandating precise details of how a provider should support a Child in Care, instead trusting in the specialisms, knowledge, and expertise of this market. This personalised specification approach allows providers (both fostering and residential) full autonomy and freedom around their individual model using their bids to detail how they will meet the individual needs of a Child in Care and the expected outcomes of this contract. Exact details of Children in Care requiring a placement are individually outlined in each output specification, these each form a Lot. Each of these are anonymised referrals of a Young Person who is currently in an unregistered placement, or at risk of being in an unregistered placement, who requires a registered placement. The Council will consider all registered children's home/foster care placements so long as it is in accordance with the child or young person's care plan, the Council are therefore able to consider solo, dual or group homes. The Council are not mandating required minimum support hours (unless in accordance with a DoLS order) instead opting to hear from providers about how they best feel they can meet needs. Placements for children and young people include those: * With emotional and behavioural difficulties. * With EHCP plans. * With a history of disrupted familial relationships and/or have experienced break down of placements in foster care or children's homes. * Who have been at risk of harm. * Who have experienced neglect. * Who have experienced emotional abuse. * Who have an identified or suspected neurodiversity. * Additional children and young people referred if / once the initial placement has ended are * likely to include those aged 10-18 years old with behaviours including but not limited to: * Self-harm, including suicidal thoughts. * Offending * Sexualised behaviours * Fire setting * Absconding * The placement is not required to accommodate children and young people with: * Physical disabilities. * Severe Learning disabilities. * Acute mental health needs who require inpatient treatment. * Clinical / nursing needs. * Severe drug dependency not on a treatment support program. In addition, the provider is to operate within Children's homes / fostering regulations, Ofsted requirements, and ensure Regulation 44 visits are in place as applicable. Criteria For Providing the Provision include that the provider will have a registered children's home vacancy or foster care placement which can be offered within the timescales detailed within the tender. Furthermore, this service must be provided in accordance with the following conditions: * The placement must be delivered in Essex or within 20 miles. * The provider must aspire for an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding. This service specification has been drafted in accordance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") and accompanying guidance. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/57f5469d-984a-41f5-b40a-c8c08bbf618e | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Jan 2025 | | Submission deadline | 11 Feb 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £19,656,000 | | 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 | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | 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) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 27 Jan 2025 at 16:33 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/57f5469d-984a-41f5-b40a-c8c08bbf618e ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/57f5469d-984a-41f5-b40a-c8c08bbf618e 27th January 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://www.essex.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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