Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
London Borough of Brent
Brent Civic Centre
Wembley
HA9 0FJ
Contact
Mr Robin Goodacre
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.londontenders.org/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.londontenders.org/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Children & Young People
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Independent Reviewing officer and Foster Carer reviews
Reference number
DN712845
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Supplier Engagement
Brent Council wishes to inform providers of its intention to publish a tender for the provision of statutory Children Looked After Reviews (Independent Reviewing Officer) and annual Foster Carer reviews. Prior to publication of the invitation to quote, the Council wishes to engage with suppliers and would like to invite you to a market engagement event where we will provide further information about the opportunity and future intensions for the service. We would also invite any feedback, expertise and experience you wish to share at the event.
The event will be held on 8th March 2024 from 3.00pm to 4.30pm, via Microsoft teams.
If you wish to attend please express an interest in the opportunity on the London Tenders Portal and send a message advising of your full organisation name, email addresses & the names of the 2 people (maximum) that will be attending the Teams meeting.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
A brief overview and background to the opportunity are provided below:
Background
The Independent Reviewing Officer’s (IRO) primary function is to act as a robust counterbalance to the Local Authority, by providing expert and independent quality assurance on the Local Authority’s care planning and reviewing process for children and young people looked after (CLA) by Brent. This duty is executed through highlighting when positive outcomes are achieved for the CLA and flagging occasions when it has not been possible to progress a child’s care plan.
A crucial part of the role is to champion the voice of the child to contribute meaningfully to the co-design of their care plan and to scrutinize action plans against their progress to ensure that the arrangements for the child’s current and long-term care are in place.
The Foster Carer Reviewing Officer (FCRO) will conduct reviews with foster carers once a year, with a view to ascertaining the suitability of the Foster Carer and their capacity of demonstrating competence in meeting the needs of looked after children, in line with the Fostering Regulations and Fostering national minimum standards.
Service Overview & Local Context
Children Looked After
The Service Provider will assist the Brent Reviewing Team by providing IROs to chair and participate in CLA reviews. The primary responsibilities of the IROs will be to incorporate the thoughts and voice of the child in their care plan and review targeted and achievable recommendations as part of the plan to enable positive outcomes. The IROs are also responsible to submit all appropriate documentation, within agreed timeframes and to standard, and hold the Local Authority to account for their performance in light of the legal responsibilities towards the child.
Foster Carers
The Service Provider will provide FCROs who will be responsible for conducting annual reviews of Foster Carers with an emphasis on monitoring the implementation of Fostering Panel recommendations, highlighting good practice, but also looking at concerns and allegations; addressing practice that falls below expected standards, including non-compliance with agreed plans and practice levels. This will ensure that the Brent CLA receive corporate parenting that is at a good standard.
As of 21st February 2024:
• There are 298 Brent children and young people Looked After (130 of whom are currently 16 years and older and 49, who are Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers Children).
• There are 90 Brent Foster Carers
Service Volume
The expected Service Volume for the Service Provider will be to provide suitable FCROs/IROs to chair Foster carer reviews (circa 100 yearly) and CLA reviews for children that Brent Council has corporate parenting responsibility for. The majority of CLA reviews covered by the Service Provider will be focusing on the older young people cohort of 16 years plus, with some additional LAC reviews for younger children and young people (circa 330-350 review annually)
Contract Length & Budget
The contract term will be 2 years with an option to extend by a further 24 months (1+1).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
7 March 2024
Local time
5:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
9 May 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
London Borough of Brent
London
Country
United Kingdom