CP2706-25 Growing Futures - Strategic Partner

Description

Devon County Council (DCC) is issuing this notice to inform the market of its intention to procure a strategic partner for the delivery of: • Children’s homes • High-needs foster care • Associated therapeutic education This strategic partnership model—rather than traditional block contracting—is intended to provide greater flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving needs of children and young people. The aim is to deliver more adaptable, blended care solutions tailored to individual circumstances. By fully integrating this provision with existing council children’s services, DCC seeks to enhance support for children and young people with the most complex needs. The overarching goal is to provide stable, local homes within Devon, alongside consistent access to education from childhood through to adulthood—enabling young people to thrive and reach their full potential. DCC is seeking to establish a long-term (10-year) strategic partnership with a provider who shares its values and commitment to supporting vulnerable children and young people. This new wraparound service will focus on those at risk of, or currently placed in, high-cost and often distant settings—whether due to mental health or social care needs. It will also address the growing number of children under the age of 13 living in children’s homes rather than in family-based care. To facilitate the procurement process DCC will adopt a Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) in order to introduce an element of Negotiation to this process. Scope of Provision The proposed service will include: • 12 small children’s homes (2–3 beds each), including one dedicated to children under 13 • 20 specialist high-needs foster carers, with 6–8 focused on under-13s, supported by a dedicated children’s home • 3–4 small therapeutic schools, including at least one for primary-aged children This integrated model is designed to ensure continuity of care, education, and therapeutic support, enabling better outcomes for some of Devon’s most vulnerable children and young people.