Supported Accommodation Services for Children and Young People (16 - 25 years)

Plymouth City Council is pleased to invite Expressions of Interest from organisations wishing to deliver Supported Accommodation Services for Children and Young People (16 - 25 years) in Plymouth; we have particular need in the 16 & 17 year olds age group. This opportunity aims to strengthen local support for children and young people who need a safe place to stay, alongside tailored assistance to help them rebuild their lives, improve their wellbeing, and achieve greater independence. Children referred to these services will be experiencing risk of homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

The services will provide safe, accessible, and high-quality accommodation alongside person-centred support that responds to the diverse needs of children and young people. This may include assistance with safety planning, addressing risks, housing pathways, access to health and wellbeing services, financial support, employment and training opportunities, and wider community integration. Providers will be expected to work collaboratively with statutory, voluntary, and community sector partners to deliver a coordinated and trauma-informed approach that promotes positive outcomes for those accessing the service.

Plymouth City Council is seeking providers with the expertise, commitment, and capacity to deliver flexible, responsive, and innovative services that meet local needs and help shape the future of this important provision.

Key challenges and risks currently being experienced by the Authority

The Authority is seeking solutions that can help address a number of local challenges, including:

Increasing demand for supported accommodation and support services.

Limited availability of suitable supported accommodation options, particularly for children and young people experiencing multiple disadvantage with complex or multiple support needs.

Rising pressures on temporary accommodation and homelessness services.

The need to ensure equitable access to services across different communities and protected groups.

Challenges in supporting children and young people to move on successfully into long-term, sustainable accommodation.

Increasing complexity of needs, including mental health issues, domestic abuse, substance misuse, financial hardship, and social isolation.

The risk of repeat presentations and revolving-door use of accommodation services where support needs are not addressed effectively.

Workforce recruitment and retention challenges affecting service continuity and capacity.

Financial pressures and the need to achieve value for money while maintaining high-quality outcomes.

The importance of effective partnership working and information sharing across agencies to ensure children and young people receive timely and coordinated support.

This is not a formal procurement process and does not constitute the commencement of any procurement activity. This initial exercise is being undertaken solely to gauge market interest, understand the range of potential solutions available, and inform any future considerations. Participation is voluntary and will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in relation to any future procurement opportunities.

Please note that the contract values and dates included in this notice are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect actual contract values or timescales. As this is an Expression of Interest notice and not a formal procurement, these details are indicative at this stage and will be reviewed and finalised as part of the subsequent procurement process.