CS 4956 Children?s Rights Advocacy Service

Children and young people looked after are not a homogenous group and come with different experiences and needs. They may be looked after for a few days or for many years. Regardless of these different circumstances we have the same aspirations for the children we are responsible for as any parent would. We want children and young people to develop into resilient, successful individuals, able to form healthy relationships and to take advantage of every positive opportunity presented.

The Children?s Rights Advocacy Service will offer advocacy in whatever manner meets the needs of child or young person, empowering both Looked After Children and Children with Disabilities to reach their full potential. The Children?s Rights Advocacy Service is required to ensure full involvement and engagement that is representative of the Looked After Children population of Tower Hamlets.

Tower Hamlets requires provider(s) to deliver Children?s Rights Advocacy Service of a high quality in order to safeguard Children with disabilities and Looked After Children (inc young people leaving care). The provider(s) must demonstrate fitness of purpose in organisation, financial viability and staff competence.

The Children?s Rights Advocacy Service will also include Independent Return Interviews for children and young people that run away from home or care. Independent return interviews provide an opportunity to speak to the child in confidence to ascertain the factors that led to the child going missing and any risks they may have been exposed to while missing and enable the local authority to implement measures to prevent reoccurrence and to safeguard the child and young person from harm.

The Council is committed to improving the quality of life for both residents and businesses within Tower Hamlets. In line with The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 the authority will consider how this procurement might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the relevant area. In order to achieve this, it is our objective to work with existing and future contractors to secure an appropriate level of community benefits through the procurement process. Detailed guidance and minimum levels of the economic and community benefit applicable to this tender will be available within the tender documentation.

A supplier briefing will be held on: 29th February 2016 between 3:00 am to 5:00. Please email wesley.hedger@towerhamlets.gov.uk to attend the supplier briefing.

The anticipated contract start date is: Friday, 01 July 2016

The estimated value of the contract is: £183,480 Per Annum

Additional information: As per details in the tender pack As per the tender documentation