---
title: "Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND"
published: "2026-04-10"
---

# Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses

Buyer: SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7

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## Summary

Social Work England is procuring a contract for a research study titled "Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses" under an open procurement method. The contract, valued at £50,000, is in the tender stage and focuses on conducting independent research to assess practice-based learning in social work education across England. The tender is classified under research services, research and development consultancy services, and higher education services, with delivery regions spanning the entirety of the UK. Interested parties need to submit their applications by 6th May 2026, with enquiries closing on 29th April 2026. The contract is scheduled to start on 19th June 2026 and end by 19th December 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research and consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in education and social work sectors. The contract is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, with emphasis on a methodologically robust and inclusive approach to research. Companies with experience in stakeholder engagement and primary research, such as surveys and case studies, will find this opportunity well-aligned with their capabilities. The evaluation criteria for awarding the contract will hinge on a 70% quality and 30% price split, rewarding detailed understandings of the regulatory landscape and innovative research designs. This project offers a platform for businesses to showcase their methodological strengths and contribute to impactful regulatory advancements in social work education.

## Notice

Social Work England is commissioning independent research to strengthen its understanding of practice-based learning across qualifying routes into social work in England. This work supports Social Work England's role as the regulator of social work education and training, and will inform future regulatory standards, guidance and quality assurance activity. The requirement is for the design and delivery of a mixed-methods research study exploring perceptions and experiences of practice-based learning, including statutory and non-statutory placements. The research will examine issues of placement quality, placement sufficiency and variation across regions, qualifying routes and workforce contexts. The supplier will be expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, which may include education providers, employers, practice educators, placement providers and newly qualified social workers. Research activity is likely to include a combination of desk-based review and primary research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups and/or case studies. Key outputs will include a midpoint findings presentation, a final written report suitable for publication, and a final presentation of findings. The supplier must ensure proportionate but robust research governance, inclusive methods, and compliance with ethical standards and UK GDPR. The contract is expected to commence on 19 June 2026 and conclude by 19 December 2026. The estimated value of the contract is PS50,000. Full technical requirements are set out in the specification.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 6 May 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 18 Jun 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £41,666 |
| Lots value | £41,666 |
| 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 | SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| 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 | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 80300000 - Higher education services

## Release History

- 10 Apr 2026 at 10:16 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032722-2026
  10th April 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/Home

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/HomeAllsubmissionsmustbemadethroughtheSocialWorkEnglandIn-Tende-procurementportal.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-067fc7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fc7.json.