*PRE MARKET ENGAGEMENT *Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme

The ASYE Programme composes of two elements: • ASYE Programme • ASYE Pathway to NAAS Background ASYE programme: ASYE programme first launched in September 2012 and is an important part of the Department’s children’s social care workforce strategy.. ASYE is an employer-led, induction programme, helping newly qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) in their first year of employment to develop their skills, knowledge and capability to transition into frontline practice. It is key to growing confidence amongst NQSWs and influences the quality of support and service provided to vulnerable children and their families. The programme enables employers to provide bespoke support to their NQSWs which is fundamental to continuing to raise the quality of frontline practice and to improving social worker retention. The funding enables further professional development to take place and requires employers to meet expectations around induction and support for newly qualified staff. More information on the programme can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessed-and-supported-year-in-employment-asye Pathway to NAAS: The National Assessment and Accreditation System (NAAS) was launched in July 2018 and enables child and family social workers to develop their skills and knowledge to improve outcomes for children and families. To do this, NAAS aims to: • Provide social workers with a better understanding of their current level of knowledge and skill and highlight areas for further development. Support employers to raise the national standard and consistency of practice. • Ensure employers better understand their workforce development needs through the practice endorsement processes including supervision, performance management and learning and development. In February 2020, the Department launched a funded pathway programme that for the first time connected ASYE to NAAS. The ASYE pathway to NAAS is seen as a logical progression from qualifying as a social worker and the first year of employment, to practice endorsement and accreditation at Accredited Child and Family Practitioner (ACFP) level. The pathway is also seen as a significant part of embedding the Post-Qualifying Standards into social workers’ career pathways – given that ASYE and NAAS are both assessed against the PQS. More information on NAAS can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-assessment-and-accreditation-system-naas The current contractor is required to: • Work directly with Local Authorities, ASYE Leads and other organisations such as children’s trusts to distribute and administer Departmental funding. • Develop and enhance the effectiveness of the ASYE programme. • Manage the operational delivery of ASYE and ASYE Pathway to NAAS • Support employers • Engage with social work sector. • Assure effective local delivery Additional Early Market Engagement Event Current contracts for Child and Family Social Worker CPD leadership programmes are due to expire end of March 2022. Existing contracts have a max annual value of £2,592,000 The Department is holding an early market engagement event for a possible future opportunity on Tuesday 6July 2021 12.30pm – 2.45pm via Microsoft Teams to enable interested suppliers to • Hear about the potential opportunity for design, delivery, and management of a leadership programme including new Leadership programmes • Have a clear understanding of the outcomes required in any re-procurement • Help develop any future requirement. All organisations wishing to attend the event and /or follow up 1:1 session (7th/8th/9th July) (should email DfE.CFSWLEADERSHIP@education.gov.uk no later than 12pm 5 July providing company details and name of the person(s) attending, job role(s), email address that will be used to access the event link. Please note two individuals per organisation can attend the event. Microsoft Teams invitations will be sent after 12pm on 5 July. Additional information: At this stage, this is purely a market engagement exercise, presentations, Q&As will be made available for anyone unable to attend on the day. Any subsequent procurement will be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to the contract notice advertising the procurement when this is published. DfE welcomes and encourages interest from SME’s, VCSEs.