Flexible Framework: Individual Care and Support for Children and Young People

The Council has a requirement for an Individual Care and Support model which will deliver good quality, flexible and responsive support to service users. To achieve this we also need to ensure we have providers who are suitably experienced and capable to deliver the service in line with the new specification. The Council has established a flexible framework for providers who can deliver one, or more, of the types of care and support packages required.

Experience of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities is essential for organisations who wish to deliver support for Children. A thorough understanding of the sensory, emotional and behavioural needs of children who have a diagnosis of ASD, ADHD, GDD and other disabilities is essential.

The Flexible Framework is divided into lots based on categories of services/specialisms.

Bidders may apply for one or more lots and the Authority will appoint bidders to all lots they have bid for successfully. There is no restriction on the numbers of bidders to be accepted onto each lot of the Flexible Framework. Bidders who pass the exclusion and selection criteria AND achieve an overall score of 60% or over will be eligible to join the Flexible Framework and awarded a Contract under the relevant lots that they have applied for.

This flexible framework has been re-opened to competition under this opportunity.

There is no guarantee of business, including number of hours/levels of work, or duration of care packages to be awarded under the flexible framework. Any work allocated under the framework will be on a spot purchase basis. Demand for this service is unpredictable and can fluctuate between low level support and intensive and challenging packages of care.

The Authority is seeking responsive providers who are committed to working in Blackpool and helping us by picking up packages of care when they are needed. Packages of care will be allocated either via direct award or mini-competition. The Authority also reserves the right to re-open competition in the future to add new providers to the Flexible Framework on an adhoc basis. Inactive providers may be removed from the Flexible Framework.

The Authority will set the price for service delivery within the terms of the Contract based on an hourly rate for lot 1 and 2.

There are no requirements for agencies to register with Ofsted or CQC if they provide services to support children with disabilities in the community or in their own homes, unless they provide personal care. Such services are often called befriending or sitting services. However, any form of care or supervision provided for children on a frequent, intensive, or overnight basis, or personal care is regulated activity under the 2006 Act and the Council expects Providers to be registered accordingly, where these services are provided.

It is anticipated that the contract term will be from 01 December 2023 to 31 March 2026, with the option to extend incrementally for a period of 2 + 2 years (subject to contract review and budget availability).

Please note this opportunity is being conducted under the requirements of the Light Touch Regime and therefore we have designed a flexible framework as allowed under the requirements. Any published framework value is an estimate. For the purposes of the procurement exercise we are advertising this as an above threshold tender; however we do not expect the value of all work awarded under the flexible framework across the whole duration to exceed £1.1m. Bidders should note that the level of work awarded under this framework is likely to be lower in value. As an indicator, current level of need across all provision of the type required is c10,000 hours per annum. Additional information: Two extension periods of 24 months each may be utilised.

As provided under lot 1. Care and support provided in the individual's home. Bidders should

note that they should be appropriately registered with the Care Quality Commission in order

to deliver regulated services Additional information: Two extension periods of 24 months each may be utilised.

As provided under lot 1. Care and support provided away from the individual's home, in the provider's own setting. Bidders should note that they should be appropriately registered with the Care Quality Commission in order to deliver regulated services.