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Published 10 Apr 2026, 12:37 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Children’s Homes Workforce Review into Professional Development

Official notice

Authority: Department for Education (Central government)

Direct awardLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)
+5 moreEast Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)
Awarded value£112,500published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Catch22 Charity Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Department for Education is to undertake a review of professional development for the children’s homes workforce in England.

The supplier will define the purpose of residential care, the knowledge and skills staff require, recommend improvements to qualifications and training, and consider how routes into the sector and career pathways can be developed to improve retention and progression.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSMEVCSE
Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East, South WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
80000000 Education and training services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
10 Apr 2026, 12:37 BST
Last source update
10 Apr 2026, 12:37 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-032797
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067fef Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

The review needs to be completed as soon as possible to inform reforms underway in children’s social care. This includes a smaller, more specialised children’s homes sector.

A specialist service provider is required. The supplier:

Is a leader in innovation and practice in the children’s homes workforce space.

Adopts a unique approach grounded in the Danish model of social pedagogy, which integrates care and education in a holistic way.

The supplier has recently developed and launched a Level 6 graduate diploma in residential care with Kingston University, to improve workforce practice.

These factors align with the direct award justifications outlined in the Procurement Act 2023 for technical reasons.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 10 Apr 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    10 Apr 2026, 12:37 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    23 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £112,5001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Catch22 Charity Limited24 Apr 2026 – 31 Aug 2026 · up to 30 Nov 2026Extensions: 3 month extension option at the authorities sole discretion.£112,500—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Department for Education

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDZG-3487-DPVD Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, London, SW1P3BTContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Catch 22 Charity LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: 06577534 27 Pear Tree Street, London, London, EC1V 3AGContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender