Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services for Children and Young People aged 0 to 25 years with SEND and their parents/carers

Staffordshire County Council wishes to commission high quality independent Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services for Children and Young People aged 0 to 25 years with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/ or Disabilities), and their parents/carers, who are resident within Staffordshire.

The successful Provider must offer an independent, impartial and responsive Service to deliver the statutory requirement to offer a Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service in accordance with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 - 25 years, January 2015.

The successful Provider will be expected to:

Promote the positive aspects of mediation and disagreement resolution as an opportunity to resolve disagreements before an appeal to the First Tier Tribunal;

Provide Mediation Advisors who have received accredited mediation training and are registered or working towards registration with the College of Mediators and Civil Mediation Council;

Have significant knowledge of the legislative framework relating to SEND;

Work in accordance with the SEND Mediation Standards produced by the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council with the Support of the Department for Education;

Work effectively with children and young people with SEND, parents/ carers and the Local Authority;

Provide appropriate mediation certification to parents/ carers within prescribed timescales;

Report on progress and provide detailed performance management information to the Council, including feedback from service users;

Have a local presence within Staffordshire and an understanding of the diverse nature of the County;

Ensure that the Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service is made available to children and young people, parents/ carers on a flexible 37 hours a week basis across Staffordshire and that any information provided is in a range of accessible formats.

The tender opportunity will be undertaken through the Authority's e-tendering system Proactis https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com

Suppliers should register their interest for this tender opportunity by searching under reference IA1478.