Proposed Short Breaks Framework for Children with Disabilities (2026-2029)

This is not a call for competition and is not yet a contract opportunity. Background Somerset Council is seeking to engage with the market to understand provider capacity, capability, and interest in delivering a multi-year/multi-lot Framework for Short Breaks for Children and Young People with Disabilities. Short breaks are a statutory service that provide planned, time-limited support for disabled children and young people while offering essential respite to families and carers. The Council is committed to developing a diverse, flexible, and sustainable market that delivers high-quality, inclusive services across Somerset, supporting: • Children to access enjoyable, meaningful experiences • Families to maintain resilience and wellbeing • Reduction in crisis interventions and family breakdown The Framework will support delivery across a predominantly rural geography, ensuring equitable access regardless of location or level of need. Service Overview The proposed Framework will commission providers across a range of Short Break service types (Lots), including: • Lot 1: Community-based daytime short breaks • Lot 2: Evening and weekend activities • Lot 3: Overnight short breaks (residential and foster care) • Lot 4: Domiciliary care (in-home support) • Lot 5: Holiday schemes • Lot 6: Emergency / unplanned short breaks Services will aim to: • Promote independence, wellbeing, and social inclusion • Provide safe, stimulating, and inclusive environments • Offer flexible, needs-led support tailored to children's needs • Deliver consistent, high-quality care across all settings The Framework is expected to operate as a multi-lot, open framework, enabling providers to join over time and respond to evolving need. Key Objectives The Council is seeking a model that: • Ensures high-quality, safe, and inclusive short break provision • Provides choice and flexibility for families and carers • Supports equitable access across Somerset, including rural areas • Enables early intervention and prevention of crisis • Delivers value for money with sustainable provider rates • Encourages innovation and co-production with families Delivery Expectations Providers are asked to consider how they would deliver the following: 1. Service Delivery Model • Which Lots you would be interested in delivering • How your model supports different levels of disability need • Approaches to delivery across a rural geography • Group vs 1:1 provision models 2. Workforce • Staffing structure across service types • Recruitment, retention, and training approaches • Experience supporting children with disabilities and complex needs • Ability to meet required staffing ratios and specialist needs 3. Safeguarding & Quality • Safeguarding policies and governance • Incident management and reporting processes • Quality assurance, inspection ratings (Ofsted/CQC where applicable) • Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements 4. Accessibility & Inclusion • How services are accessible and inclusive (e.g. communication needs, cultural needs, sensory needs) • Ability to support a wide range of disabilities and complex needs • Reasonable adjustments and personalised care approaches 5. Partnership Working • Working with Somerset Council and Children with Disabilities Service • Engagement with families, carers, and co-production approaches • Collaboration with education, health, and community services 6. Mobilisation & Capacity • Capacity to deliver services across Somerset • Timescales for mobilisation • Ability to scale provision up/down in response to demand Service Models Under Consideration The Council is interested in feedback on the feasibility of different delivery approaches: Full Framework Delivery • Providers delivering multiple Lots across the Framework • Comprehensive, multi-service offer Specialist / Lot-Based Delivery • Providers focusing on specific Lots (e.g. overnight or emergency provision) Flexible & Innovative Models • Hybrid group/1:1 provision • Community partnerships • Digital tools for scheduling/engagement • New models of respite or outreach support Procurement Context The Council is proposing: • A multi-year open framework (2026-2029) with extension options • Providers able to join the framework over time • Call-off via mini-competition or direct award, depending on need Indicative Cost Parameters The Council is seeking market feedback on the deliverability of services within indicative rate ceilings: Lot Service Type Indicative Rate Lot 1 Community-based Daytime ~£22/hour Lot 2 Evening/Weekend ~£24/hour Lot 3a Residential Overnight ~£350/night Lot 3b Foster Overnight ~£120/night Lot 4 Domiciliary Care ~£26/hour Lot 5 Holiday Schemes ~£22/hour Lot 6 Emergency Provision ~£30/hour+ Providers are encouraged to propose: • Sustainable pricing models • Innovative and cost-effective approaches • Any pressures or risks affecting viability Market Engagement Purpose This engagement is intended to: • Assess market capacity, capability, and appetite • Inform final service specification and lot design • Test pricing assumptions and affordability • Shape the procurement approach and timelines • Identify innovation and partnership opportunities Anticipated Timeline • Market engagement: Summer 2026 • Procurement launch: Late 2026 • Framework award: Early 2027 • Service commencement: 2027 If you would like to express an interest in this opportunity, please respond to the following questions by emailing: jesse.eveleigh@somerset.gov.uk Deadline for responding: 10.07.2026 - Thank you. Preliminary market engagement questions: 1. Please outline which Lots you would be interested in delivering and your experience in providing similar short break services. 2. Please describe your proposed delivery model(s), including how and where you would operate across Somerset (please include specific locations you can cover e.g. Taunton where required, or just state general areas e.g. Mendip, South Somerset) 3. Please set out your staffing model, including recruitment, training, supervision, and experience supporting children with disabilities and complex needs. 4. Please outline your safeguarding, quality assurance, and compliance arrangements, including inspection ratings where applicable. 5. Please describe how you ensure accessibility, inclusion, and personalised support for a wide range of needs. 6. Please outline your capacity and ability to mobilise services within required timescales. 7. Please provide indicative pricing for your proposed services and key cost drivers. 8. Please identify any risks, constraints, or dependencies associated with delivering these services and how they could be mitigated. 9. Please set out any innovative or alternative delivery models that could improve outcomes or value for money.