---
title: "22 048 Family Support Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2022-12-13"
---

# 22 048 Family Support Services

Buyer: CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e

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## Summary

The Cheshire East Council is inviting tenders for the establishment of a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) agreement to provide Family Support Services. This procurement falls under the Social work services without accommodation category. The FPS will operate over a 5-year fixed term period, with annual rounds for application. The Council aims to support children and families in various circumstances, divided into eight Lots for providers to apply. The tender is currently in the Tender stage, with a submission deadline of January 19, 2023.

This tender presents an opportunity for providers in the healthcare and social work services sector to offer support to children and families within Cheshire East Council's framework. Businesses with expertise in areas such as children's nursing, care work, therapeutic support, and behavioural analysis are well-suited to compete. The procurement method is deemed to be selective, with a focus on ensuring a competitive and transparent process through the FPS. Interested suppliers must meet the minimum Selection Criteria to be considered for entry onto the FPS.

## Notice

Cheshire East Council wishes to establish a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) agreement to provide a broad range of support to children and families at home and in the community. Children's Services teams that identify children and families that require commissioned service support will access the FPS when considering their options. Children and Family Support Service are available for a range of circumstances where needs are identified in the home, for example to support children with disabilities, when positive behaviour support services are required, therapeutic support and assessment is needed and also for support in the community to support children on the edge of the care system. On occasions commissioned support is required to support the placement of a cared for child. Every element of support to children and families is geared to maximise their positive outcomes, support mental health and wellbeing and the safety of children at home and in the community. Providers joining the FPS must adopt a person-centred approach and ensure that services are outcome focused, meeting the identified needs of individuals they support. Providers will adopt a strength-based approach, supporting people to recognise and achieve their full potential, whilst also working towards increased levels of health and wellbeing. The contract period will be for fixed term of 5 years. The FPS will open in rounds annually during the contract period, with two rounds in the first year, and then opening every twelve months. We may also open the FPS at any point during the contact period, should a need to do so arise. The FPS is divided into eight Lots, Providers can apply to join one or more lots / categories: Lot 1 Life limiting or complex care and autism spectrum condition Lot 2 Moderate level needs including physical disability, learning disability and autism spectrum condition Lot 3 Low level medical needs including physical disability, learning disability and autism spectrum condition Lot 4 Positive Behaviour Support Lot 5 Mental health - parent and / or child Lot 6 Edge of care support to families. Lot 7 Assessment and therapeutic input Lot 8 Cared for children accommodation - stability of placement. Step-down from cared for children's accommodation and tier 4 mental health beds Tenders are invited from Providers who wish to be included in the Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) being introduced by Cheshire East Council for the provision of Children and Family Support Services.

### Lot Information

Life limiting or complex care and autism spectrum condition

We are looking for experienced children's nurses qualified under the Nursing Midwifery Council who can fulfil the direct nursing needs of children and young people with complex medical needs within a community setting. Nurses must be skilled enough to deliver care which meets the clinical needs of the child or young person within a community setting.

Moderate level needs including physical disability, learning disability and autism spectrum condition

Highly skilled carer workers must be skilled to carry out a programme of activities with disabled children and young people who have complex needs in their homes and the community required to achieve outcomes listed on the child's plan. For example, carer workers may need to support the development of disabled children and young people's independent living skills, travel training and provide them with high quality personal care.

Low level medical needs including physical disability, learning disability and autism spectrum condition

We are looking for experienced Support Workers for disabled children and young people who are skilled to carry out a programme of activities with disabled children and young people in their homes and the community required to achieve outcomes listed on the child's plan. For example, Support Workers may need to support the development of disabled children and young people's independent living skills, travel training and provide them with high quality personal care. Support Workers may also need to provide practical support to families in the home.

Positive Behaviour Support

We are looking for a Positive Behaviour Support Service (PBSS) that works to support behaviour change and improved quality of life for people with autism and/or learning disabilities who engage in challenging behaviour. Workers would include for example Board Certified Behaviour Analysts, Assistant Behaviour Analysts, specially trained Behaviour Practitioners and skilled support workers.

Mental health - parent and / or child

We are looking for Care Workers, Skilled Support Workers and Therapeutic Input to support: * Parental Mental Health - regular support from care workers / support workers - weekdays and or weekends usually to provide practical support with day to day tasks causing challenge such as taking children out to activities, managing morning / evening routines. Usually time slots outside school hours. * Child Mental Health - regular support/ family respite. Supporting young people with mental health concerns who don't meet CAMHS intervention criteria, supporting families in managing behaviours / providing respite from challenging behaviours. May require waking nights and input from Therapeutic practitioners. Combination of support and therapeutic input. May require liaising and working with health / school. Usually time slots evenings and nights - daytime provision to support return to education may also be needed.

Edge of care support to families

We are looking for Skilled Support Workers and Therapeutic Input to support: * Edge of Care - Young People - regular support and or mentoring input / family guidance and input with strategies and behaviours. Supporting young people with challenging behaviours which may involve drugs, alcohol, gangs, missing from home incidents and criminal / sexual exploitation. Mentoring and providing therapeutic input to challenge these behaviours. Building relationships and guidance towards positive activities. Increasing engagement in sustainable, positive activities to build a base for long term stability and independence. Rebuilding family relationships, de-escalation of high stress, high emotion environments, developing parents' capacity to safeguard and parent effectively. Input usually takes place daytime - if young person is school refusing / late afternoon - late night and waking nights, weekdays and weekends. May require liaising and working with school / youth justice / @ct and other agencies working with young person. * Edge of Care - Adoption Support - regular support and or mentoring input / family guidance and input with strategies and behaviours / respite and support to stabilise placement. Supporting young people with challenging behaviours which have developed due to previous childhood trauma. Supporting with strategies to deal with dis-regulation and attachment related behaviours. Mentoring and providing therapeutic input and liaising with carers, school and other agencies working with young people to promote consistent strategies. Input usually takes place daytime - if young person is school refusing / before or after school / overnight if respite is needed. * Edge of Care - Family Support - regular support and safeguarding for children where families are at risk of children going into care. Family guidance on behaviour, care and routines needed to ensure a safe, nurturing environment and positive relationships. Often supporting families with very young / new born babies or multiple young children. Adults may have learning difficulties, mental health issues or challenges where directed input needs to be delivered in short chunks with regular repetition to meet their processing needs. Staff will need to make daily observations and assessments and provide regular feedback in partnership with other agencies to ensure the well being of children. * Edge of Care - Step Down - regular support and or mentoring input / family guidance and input with strategies and behaviours. Supporting young people who have previously exhibited challenging behaviours / Tier 4 mental health stepdown. Mentoring and providing therapeutic input to support challenges of stepdown. Building relationships and guidance towards positive activities. Increasing engagement in sustainable, positive activities to build a base for long term stability and independence. Rebuilding family relationships, developing parents' capacity to safeguard and parent effectively, providing reassurance. Input may initially be 24/7 and a staffing ratio of 2:1 for Tier 4 step downs; Care step downs are likely to be outside school hours or during the day if the young person has not yet returned to education.

Assessment and therapeutic input

We are looking for a range of family assessments and therapeutic services such as sibling assessments, specialist adoption assessments, family functioning, parenting capacity and attachment work. This may be within the pre proceedings process to prevent separation and help identify attachment, parenting styles or emotional wellbeing and mental health functioning to support a family in maintaining care. This will also include consideration of assessment and support within the court process or long-term care.

Cared for children accommodation - stability of placement. Step-down from cared for children's accommodation and tier 4 mental health beds

We are looking for Skilled Support Workers and Therapeutic Input to support: * Cared for Children - Placement Stability and step-down - regular support and placement respite - weekdays or weekends to provide support with / respite from challenging behaviours and stabilise placement. Supporting young people with challenging behaviours which may involve drugs, alcohol, gangs, missing from placement incidents and criminal / sexual exploitation. Mentoring and providing therapeutic input to challenge these behaviours. Building relationships and guidance towards positive activities. Increasing engagement in sustainable, positive activities to build a base for long term stability and independence. Working with young person's family and friends to maintain positive contact and support a pathway to reunification with family / family network; transporting and retrieving young person from contact visits and de-escalating potential missing from home opportunities. Input may take place daytime - if young person is school refusing / late afternoon - late night and waking nights, weekdays and weekends. May require liaising and working with school / youth justice / @ct and other agencies working with young person.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035291-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Dec 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Jan 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £22,000,000 |
| Lots value | £22,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | SANDBACH |
| Post town | Crewe |
| Postcode | CW11 1HZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD62 Cheshire East |
| Local authority | Cheshire East |
| Electoral ward | Sandbach Town |
| Westminster constituency | Congleton |
| Delivery location | TLD62 Cheshire East |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

## Release History

- 13 Dec 2022 at 18:07 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035291-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/
- https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/
- https://www.the-chest.org.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038d2e.json.