Family Link Worker Service

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition. It is being published to give notice to the market of an upcoming procurement anticipated for release in July/August 2025.

Dorset Council is preparing to procure a provider for its Family Link Worker (FLW) Service, which forms a key part of the Council’s Families First model. This service builds on the success of the Supporting Families programme, which ceased as a distinct government initiative in March 2025.

As part of our commitment to transparency and early market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023, Dorset Council is inviting interested providers to attend a Market Engagement Webinar. This session will provide an overview of the upcoming opportunity, the service model, and the procurement process, and will include a Q&A session.

About the Service

The Family Link Worker service provides intensive, hands-on support to families in their homes. It is designed to:

• Support Lead Practitioners and Early Support partners (e.g., schools, health workers)
• Address whole-family needs through co-produced family plans
• Focus on parenting, routines, behaviour management, and engagement in positive activities
• Deliver support through role modelling and practical interventions

Webinar Details

Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Time: 10:00–10:45 AM

Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

Registration: Email [email protected] by 17:00 hours Tuesday 8 July to receive the joining link.

We welcome your questions in advance of the webinar.

When you email us to register, please include any questions you'd like us to address during the session.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions live during the webinar.

If we’re unable to answer a question during the session, we’ll follow up with a written response after the event.

After the event, all registered participants will receive:

• A full summary of all questions and answers discussed during the webinar
• A copy of the presentation slide pack

This information will also be made available as part of the tender pack.

Who Should Attend

This event is open to all interested providers. Participation in this event does not confer any advantage in the procurement process and is intended solely to ensure a level playing field and informed competition.

Registration Requirements

It is the provider’s responsibility to register on The Central Digital Platform (CDP) as soon as possible to avoid delays once the tender is launched.

www.gov.uk/government/publicati… ↗

To access information about future tendering opportunities and procurement documentation providers must be registered on the Supplying the South West Portal: www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗

Compliance with the Procurement Act 2023

This notice is issued in accordance with Section 17 of the Procurement Act 2023, which encourages early engagement with the market.

All information shared during the webinar will be made available to all potential bidders to ensure fairness and transparency.

Disclaimer

Dorset Council reserves the right not to commence any procurement in respect of this notice.

Dorset Council shall not be liable for any losses incurred by any party as a result of reliance on the information contained/linked herein.

The information contained in this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is preliminary in nature and may be subject to further amendment and revision. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, will be made and no liability is, or will be, accepted by the Council as to the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of this document. Any liability, however arising, is expressly disclaimed.

No expense in responding to this soft market testing will be reimbursed by the Council.