Scope
Description
Medway Council believes that where appropriate and safe to do so, every effort should be made to support families to keep their children with their family setting. The Advocacy service for parents will work in a multi-disciplinary way to support families on the edge of care and those with children already in care to build their strength and emotional resilience. Giving them the confidence to access support and services to ensure they can safely keep their children in their care.
The service will provide high quality advocacy support to families to enable them to address the issues and challenges in their lives that may prevent them from keeping their children. These may include issues such as:
-Poor emotional wellbeing
-Poor physical and mental health
-Experience of Trauma
-Significant Learning disability
-Limited access to community support and services
-Inconsistent use of contraception
-Continued experience of Domestic Violence
-Ongoing Substance Misuse
-Inadequate Housing
-Financial Hardship
Direct work with families will recognise differences in experiences of these and other factors providing a holistic, well-rounded support focused on building a family’s stability to work through these factors to safely support their child or children.
It is likely that the majority of families supported by this service will be in pre-proceedings, some families may have already had children removed.
The service will support families as directed by the Medway Family Partnership Co-ordinator. Note – Families refers to working with both parents (either jointly or separately) or working with single parents (either Mum or Dad).
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
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Total value (estimated)
- £1,000,000 excluding VAT
- £1,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
- Possible extension to 30 June 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
One option to extend for a period of 12 months.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- 85310000 - Social work services
Contract locations
- UKJ41 - Medway
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
See procurement specific questionnaire
Technical ability conditions of participation
See procurement specific questionnaire
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
27 February 2026, 5:30pm
Tender submission deadline
16 March 2026, 4:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
6 May 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Questions in social value | Quality | 70% |
| Price | Price | 30% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Medway Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWYH-3898-LDQR
Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road
Chatham
ME4 4TR
United Kingdom
Contact name: Mr James Welch
Email: james.welch@medway.gov.uk
Region: UKJ41 - Medway
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government