---
title: "Residential Placement for ID 392478"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Darlington Borough Council"
published: "2026-08-28"
---

# Residential Placement for ID 392478

Buyer: Darlington Borough Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c

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## Summary

Darlington Borough Council procured a children’s residential placement for an identified child, under its light-touch social care arrangements. The requirement covers residential care and associated support services, classified as health and social work services. Delivery is in Darlington, within the borough council’s area. This is a single residential placement rather than a broader programme of services or a multi-site framework. It is relevant to providers operating children’s residential homes or specialist residential care services, particularly organisations able to accommodate and support an individual child under a local authority placement. The buyer is Darlington Borough Council, a sub-central public authority, and the selected provider is based in Carnforth, Lancashire.

The procurement has been awarded following a completed direct-award process. Darlington Borough Council used a direct award because an urgent placement was required, under the light-touch regime and the legal basis recorded for the procedure. There was one lot, suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Hopscotch Care Limited was selected as supplier, with an award value of £1,746,857.82 including tax. The award date was 28 August 2026. The awarded service period runs from 28 August 2026 to 17 April 2029. The award is recorded as pending, with signature scheduled for 28 August 2026. The procurement value was above the relevant threshold. Evaluation was therefore based on the urgent placement requirement and direct-award route rather than a competitive tender.

This award shows sustained local-authority demand for high-value children’s residential placements in Darlington and indicates that urgent individual placements can be sourced through a direct-award route. A credible future provider would need to operate an appropriate children’s residential service, accept referrals from the council and provide safe, continuous accommodation and care for an identified child. The opportunity is accessible in principle to SMEs, as the single lot was marked suitable for them. Providers should be able to demonstrate the operational capacity to sustain a placement over a substantial period, respond to urgent placement needs and work effectively with a borough council. Experience in children’s residential care and health or social work services would be directly relevant.

## Notice

PB2026-00486 - Children's Residential Placement for ID 392478

### Procurement Information

Urgent placement required

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082187-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 28 Aug 2026 - 17 Apr 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,746,857 |
| 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 | Darlington Borough Council |
| Locality | DARLINGTON |
| Postcode area | Darlington |
| Postcode | DL1 5QT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC33 Darlington |
| Local authority | Darlington |
| Electoral ward | Park East |
| Westminster constituency | Darlington |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Hopscotch Care Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 28 Aug 2026 at 13:27 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082187-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082187-2026
  28th August 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06ee8c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee8c.json.