Scope
Description
The family justice (FJ) system is one of the most complex and cross-system policy areas in Children's Services. DfE holds responsibility for public law, covering all vulnerable children in England who require local authority (LA) intervention. Unacceptable delays in the family courts have been a long-standing issue for over 10 years. We want to create sustainable cross-system changes that bring down family court delays. We want to build on the work of our 24/25 Trailblazer pilot. This pilot involved five DFJ trailblazer areas with significant delays taking part in deep dives to determine the most pressing drivers of delay in Family Courts in their local context and implement tailored solutions.
Expected services will include:
Roll out Guided Learning
• Expand Guided Learning: Offer the Guided Learning (GL) process to the remaining 23 DFJ areas and enhance the offer for the first 15 areas.
• Enhanced Offer: Prescribe solutions based on Trailblazers' existing solutions for all 38 areas.
• Toolkit Development: Provide a toolkit for local solution development, supported by Trailblazer insights.
Support ongoing learning for DFJ areas, the DfE, and the wider sector
• Expand PLGs: Broaden Communities of Practice for all DFJ areas to build networks for improvement.
• Pilot Evaluation: Continue supporting the evaluation of the pilot programme.
• Disseminate Learning: Share ongoing learning through events, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, etc.
Develop and embed learning from Trailblazers
• Collate Insights: Analyse learning from the Trailblazers pilot, highlighting impactful initiatives and lessons learned.
• Build Evidence Base: Expand the Guided Learning evidence base with additional DFJ areas.
• Early Adopters' Toolkit: Develop a toolkit for implementing Trailblazer solutions.
Further develop system accountability work
1. Engage Stakeholders: Work with key stakeholders to understand challenges and solutions.
2. Address NAO Recommendations: Review and implement relevant recommendations from the National Audit Office.
3. Develop Family Justice Strategy: Conduct research and gather data to inform policy and practice.
4. Practical Recommendations: Develop actionable recommendations and policy proposals to drive improvement.
The purpose of this Notice is to initiate market consultation and is not being used as a call for competition. The Notice is intended to:
Raise awareness with the market of a potential future procurement process and to enable time for organisations to begin early discussions with the Department and each other as to how they may be able to deliver any future contract.
The family justice (FJ) system is one of the most complex and cross-system policy areas in Children's Services. DfE holds responsibility for public law, covering all vulnerable children in England who require local authority (LA) intervention. Unacceptable delays in the family courts have been a long-standing issue for over 10 years. We want to create sustainable cross-system changes that bring down family court delays. We want to build on the work of our 24/25 Trailblazer pilot. This pilot involved five DFJ trailblazer areas with significant delays taking part in deep dives to determine the most pressing drivers of delay in Family Courts in their local context and implement tailored solutions.
Expected services will include:
Roll out Guided Learning
• Expand Guided Learning: Offer the Guided Learning (GL) process to the remaining 23 DFJ areas and enhance the offer for the first 15 areas.
• Enhanced Offer: Prescribe solutions based on Trailblazers' existing solutions for all 38 areas.
• Toolkit Development: Provide a toolkit for local solution development, supported by Trailblazer insights.
Support ongoing learning for DFJ areas, the DfE, and the wider sector
• Expand PLGs: Broaden Communities of Practice for all DFJ areas to build networks for improvement.
• Pilot Evaluation: Continue supporting the evaluation of the pilot programme.
• Disseminate Learning: Share ongoing learning through events, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, etc.
Develop and embed learning from Trailblazers
• Collate Insights: Analyse learning from the Trailblazers pilot, highlighting impactful initiatives and lessons learned.
• Build Evidence Base: Expand the Guided Learning evidence base with additional DFJ areas.
• Early Adopters' Toolkit: Develop a toolkit for implementing Trailblazer solutions.
Further develop system accountability work
1. Engage Stakeholders: Work with key stakeholders to understand challenges and solutions.
2. Address NAO Recommendations: Review and implement relevant recommendations from the National Audit Office.
3. Develop Family Justice Strategy: Conduct research and gather data to inform policy and practice.
4. Practical Recommendations: Develop actionable recommendations and policy proposals to drive improvement.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 7 July 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 8 months, 25 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79411000 - General management consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
31 March 2025
Engagement process description
The Department will be undertaking market consultation activity during the coming weeks, to gather information about the supply market. This will consist of a virtual event via MS Teams. We aim for this event to take place Monday, 31 March, 10:00-11:00. If you are interested, please contact Varick.HARRISON@education.gov.uk to arrange an invitation to the event. We intend to share the outcomes from the main session with all potential suppliers following the conclusion of the consultation period.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 April 2025
Contracting authority
Department for Education
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P3BT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government