Enhanced Aftercare · UK public procurement notice

The Council does not currently provide a bespoke intensive support and accommodation service for this group of young people. From the Continuing Care group, approximately 10 young people are considered in the high risk category, having left their care placement before they were 18 years. The group of 10 will be a rotating group with service users progressing on at different points, and new members joining at different times. It was reported that these young people in particular were posing considerable challenge to services as they were in cycles of crisis. The proposed model is aimed at this most vulnerable group only.

PROPOSED MODEL

The Council is currently considering the below model:

The proposed service will include 2 main elements:

1. 24/7 Intensive Support

As part of the Council’s commitment to develop a wider range of options for young people who choose to leave care, the Council is looking to commission a model of high-level support with accommodation for 16 to 21 year old (individual self-contained rooms and communal areas including bathrooms and/or 24/7 staffed shared houses) with support staff available 24 hours, 7 days per week. This could be in one accommodation, or a maximum of 2 locations, accessible by public transport and having local amenities within walking distance.

2. Emergency Accommodation

The service will also have capacity to provide safe emergency accommodation and support that some young people will require as an emergency / short term alternative until they resolve the cause of crisis. The model needs to take account that Young People’s needs for accommodation and support can change on a daily basis and the service can respond to emergency placements. This service can only be available if there is a vacancy in the 10 places.

The Council requires potential bidders to deliver both housing and support solutions with the service to be available across all geographical localities.

The service will provide intensive 24/7 support and accommodation, which includes bespoke one to one support for particularly challenging young people with multiple complex needs. These can include young people whose latest placements have broken down, who have been released from custody early, whose lives are at risk due to gang involvement, Criminal exploitation or Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC), and young people at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) or who have comorbid substance misuse & mental health.

The contract will be procured via the open tendering procedure which is available to all suppliers.

The contract will be awarded for a period of 3 years with optional extension of a further 2 years. Additional information: The PIN notice is for information only at this stage, there is no additional information or documentation available at the this time.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please express an interest in the Notice and I will advise when the tender is available to download from Public Contracts Scotland - Tender (PCS-T).