Planning

Fostering and Adoption Medicals

  • Essex County Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-023824

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03efc5

Published 15 August 2023, 10:17am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Essex County Council

County Hall, Market Road

Chelmsford

CM1 1QH

Contact

Miss Tabitha Allen

Email

tabitha.allen@essex.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3330322078

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH3 - Essex

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.essex.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.essex.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Fostering and Adoption Medicals

Reference number

DN682997

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Essex County Council (“ECC”) currently commission Fostering & Adoption Medical Advisory Services across the 4 ECC quadrants North, West, Mid and South. This service is required to deliver the statutory functions for the provision of medical advisory reports to Fostering and Adoption Panels as set out in the Adoption Services Regulations 2005, the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for both Adoption and Fostering. Current contracts for the service are due to expire in March 2024.ECC are looking to procure a 7 year contract for the four ECC quadrants.

The medical advisor should be a paediatrician who is fully registered with the GMC and has an enhanced DBS check. Services within the contract will include :

Initial written report for panel on the health of prospective adopter / foster carer

Review report for panel on the health of adopter / foster carer

Initial written health report for panel on each child being considered for adoption

Preparation for an adoption / fostering panel

Attendance at adoption / fostering panel

Review health report for each child being considered for adoption

Meeting with prospective adopters

Indicative service figures per annum per quadrant are:

Medical reports for prospective Foster Carers – approximately 60

Medical reports for prospective Adopters – approximately 48

Medical reports for children being put forward for adoption – approximately 43

Essex County Council (ECC) is seeking expressions of interest from providers that can deliver this contract either pan Essex or for individual quadrants.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85120000 - Medical practice and related services
  • 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
  • 85323000 - Community health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH - East of England

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Essex County Council (“ECC”) currently commission Fostering & Adoption Medical Advisory Services across the 4 ECC quadrants North, West, Mid and South. This service is required to deliver the statutory functions for the provision of medical advisory reports to Fostering and Adoption Panels as set out in the Adoption Services Regulations 2005, the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for both Adoption and Fostering. Current contracts for the service are due to expire in March 2024.ECC are looking to procure a 7 year contract for the four ECC quadrants.

The medical advisor should be a paediatrician who is fully registered with the GMC and has an enhanced DBS check. Services within the contract will include :

Initial written report for panel on the health of prospective adopter / foster carer

Review report for panel on the health of adopter / foster carer

Initial written health report for panel on each child being considered for adoption

Preparation for an adoption / fostering panel

Attendance at adoption / fostering panel

Review health report for each child being considered for adoption

Meeting with prospective adopters

Indicative service figures per annum per quadrant are:

Medical reports for prospective Foster Carers – approximately 60

Medical reports for prospective Adopters – approximately 48

Medical reports for children being put forward for adoption – approximately 43

Essex County Council (ECC) is seeking expressions of interest from providers that can deliver this contract either pan Essex or for individual quadrants.

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The option to extend the contract may be available. This will be confirmed at the specification stage of the procurement process. Please contact tabitha.allen@essex.gov.uk for more information.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

6 October 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes