Scope
Description
Advocacy Service - Provide independent support for Manchester Children and Young People who are cared for or Care Leavers to ensure that they are actively contributing to the development and implementation of their plan. Ensuring that their wishes, feelings and lived experience are taken into account when decisions are being taken about their lives.
The objective of the service is to provide a Children's Rights and Advocacy Service, which safeguards eligible Children and Young People in order to protect them from abuse and poor practice and to ensure that all relevant children and young people have the confidence and ability to actively contribute and direct the development and implementation of their care plans.
The Independent Visitors Service - provides trained volunteers who befriend and support children in care, offering them a stable and positive adult relationship outside of their care arrangements.
The purpose of the Service is to manage the recruitment, training and matching of Volunteer Independent Visitors who can befriend, visit and assist Children and Young People who are cared for.
Possibly 3 years contract with option to extend for 1+1
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2029
- Possible extension to 31 October 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKD33 - Manchester
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30 January 2026
Engagement process description
Manchester City Council in a bid to co-design the contract, invites existing and prospective providers of Children and Young People Advocacy and Independent Visitors service to submit a brief outlining their capacity and capability to deliver the specified provision.
Submissions should be sent to:
Bukola Aransiola, Senior Commissioning & Contracts Officer
Bukola.Aransiola@manchester.gov.uk by 30th January 2026.
In the brief, Manchester City Council seeks to understand
Market capacity and capability
Innovative delivery options
Potential Risks, barriers and cost drivers.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Manchester City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLNV-8798-LDMP
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 2LA
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@manchester.gov.uk
Website: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government