---
title: "Staying Close"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-07-23"
---

# Staying Close

Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a

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## Summary

Essex County Council has completed a procurement process titled "Staying Close" aimed at providing specialist intensive coaching services for children in care and care leavers aged 16-25 with complex needs. This initiative forms part of the ongoing efforts to deliver trauma-informed support designed to foster independence and resilience among vulnerable young people. The procurement, handled through a direct, below-threshold method without competition, saw its award notice published on 23rd July 2026, with services expected to be delivered from that date until 30th June 2027. The contract, valued at £445,493, involves the provision of welfare services across Essex, addressing the needs of young people facing placement instability and high-risk situations.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in welfare services, particularly those with a focus on trauma-informed care and support for youth. "THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY (SERVICES) LIMITED" has been named the supplier, suggesting that organisations with experience in youth engagement and empowerment, especially those classified as SMEs or VCSEs, are well-suited to pursue similar opportunities. Companies capable of offering relationship-based coaching interventions and engaging effectively with multi-agency stakeholders could find meaningful prospects for growth in this sector, as well as an opportunity to contribute positively to community welfare outcomes and stability for young people across Essex.

## Notice

Essex County Council is procuring a specialist intensive coaching service to deliver the Staying Close programme for children in care and care leavers, primarily aged 16-25, who present with complex needs, placement instability and heightened risks. The service will provide relationship-based, trauma-informed coaching and practical support to vulnerable young people for up to 25 hours per week over a period of up to 18 months. The programme is designed to improve stability, safety, resilience and life outcomes by working closely with young people, their families, carers, social workers, placement providers and other relevant agencies. The appointed provider will recruit, manage and supervise skilled coaches who will deliver personalised, strengths-based interventions focused on reducing risk, improving emotional wellbeing, strengthening family and social relationships, supporting engagement in education, employment and training, and enabling successful transitions into adulthood. The service will also support young people to step down safely from higher-cost or higher-intensity care placements, return home where appropriate, or achieve greater stability within their existing placement arrangements. The provider will operate across Essex, delivering flexible support including evenings, weekends and out-of-hours arrangements, whilst maintaining strong multi-agency partnerships and robust safeguarding, performance monitoring and outcome measurement processes. The overall aim of the service is to achieve improved outcomes for vulnerable young people, reduce placement breakdowns, promote sustainable independence and resilience, and deliver a cost-effective alternative to more intensive care settings.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069887-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 22 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £445,493 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY (SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

## Release History

- 23 Jul 2026 at 14:38 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069887-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069887-2026
  23rd July 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk
- 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-06d25a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d25a.json.