Development of a behaviour change programme for parents in family court proceedings

Description

Summary of the work Cafcass requires a team with experience of child services and adult learning to design, develop and prepare for hosting online self-guided learning and materials to support facilitated group work. In excess of 25,000 users of the solution are anticipated per annum. Expected Contract Length 11 months (with option to extend for 1 month for testing and mobilisation) Latest start date Wednesday 1 June 2022 Budget Range It is estimated that the work can be delivered within the budget range of £180,000-£250,000. This includes the one-of programme design and development • Programme content development £180-250k (one-off) (inclusive of VAT). Why the Work is Being Done The current programme, known as the Separated Parents Information Programme (and related Parenting Plan) will be replaced to provide a seamless online platform where (court directed) parents and carers can access an educational programme, information and support. A move to a ‘digital by default’ approach enables easier opportunities for access and better tailoring and relevance to diverse communities. The new programme is to be designed in three stages - self-directed learning, facilitated group learning and post programme follow-up. The non-self-directed elements of the programme will be delivered by newly commissioned providers. The new programme allows participants to better practice new skills and reflect on their learning. This work is necessary to support the role of Cafcass social workers and Family Courts in considering the needs of children subject to family court proceedings. Problem to Be Solved Family courts in England receive around 45,000 applications per year from separated parents who can’t agree 'spending time with' arrangements for their children. The new programme is to help parents (and extended family members) understand the impact separation has on children. Parents need to access information and engage with online content that helps them to understand and reflect on their behaviour. Parents will need to revisit their communication skills and learn about tools to resolve conflict safely and as early as possible. The programme will need to create enough impact to change behaviour in the longer term. Parents will be supported by commissioned providers through this programme which will be delivered over a 6 – 12-week period. Parents need to be able to access a digital 'parenting plan' that they co-create together to support their children and their communication with each other. Who Are the Users As a parent (or extended family member), I will be directed, or court ordered, to engage in learning online and in an online training programme to learn about the impact of separation and conflict on children. This learning will help me to change my behaviour in the interests of my children. I need to be able to access this learning from any device at any time. I will be supported in using online materials by a separately commissioned provider and expert in family conflict resolution. My language, cultural and learning needs will be met. As a commissioned provider and expert of family conflict resolution I need to know the online materials very well and be able to support parents and others to use them. I need to know which parents have completed their learning. When parents cannot access the solution, I need an opportunity to download a version that I can use with them in person or on the telephone. I need to have a way to document follow up conversations once parents have completed the programme. Early Market Engagement Pre-market engagement events were held on the new model on 08 Nov 2021 and 09 Feb 2022. https://procontract.due-north.com/ Work Already Done Stakeholder engagement work has been carried out to understand need and to shape the service. We know that: 1. Parents can be recommended to the programme by a Cafcass Social Worker or court order. 2. Referrals will be automated and managed using an in-house service portal. 3. The service portal will refer parents to e-learning which they will complete with support from commissioned provider. 4. Parents will then complete an online, facilitated group work session. 5. Parents will be followed-up by phone call to measure impact. 6. Parents will have access to a parenting plan online that they co-create together. Existing Team The existing team consists of a Service Manager, Content Designer, Technical Analyst from within Cafcass. Current Phase Beta Skills & Experience • At least 3 years experience in designing and developing self-directed and guided online adult educational programmes that are interactive and multi-media. • Experience of providing services that meet the AA standard of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1. These are created and maintained by the W3C consortium web accessibility initiative. Nice to Haves • At least 3 years experience and knowledge in designing/developing support programmes for adults that encourage behaviour change. • Experience of developing evidence-based content for parents going through separation and divorce • Experience of creating products which are available in a range of languages and/or for diverse users Work Location Cafcass, 3rd Floor, 21 Bloomsbury St, London WC1B 3HF and National Business Centre, Milburn Hill Road, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ. Note: most work will be undertaken from home. Working Arrangments The supplier will keep some Cafcass team hours in order to maximise knowledge transfer. Expenses shall be capped at £5,000 for the duration of the contract and all travel and subsistence will require prior approval. Security Clearance Anyone with administrative level access to key Cafcass systems, which allows them to grant or elevate others’ access rights, will be required to go through additional vetting to obtain Security Clearance (SC) before unsupervised access is granted. Any other staff should ideally have Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) minimum. Additional T&Cs All expenses must be pre-agreed between the parties and must comply with the Cafcass's Travel and Subsistence (T&S) Policy. All vendors are obliged to provide sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures so that the processing meets the requirements of GDPR and ensures the protection of the rights of data subjects. For further information please see the Information Commissioner's Office website https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-reform/overview-of-the-gdpr/ No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Describe how you will work with Cafcass to design interactive content that uses different media to deliver key learning outcomes. • Describe how you will work with Cafcass to design the technical solution. • Describe your approach and methodology. • Describe how the approach or solution will meet user needs. • Set out a time-scale for the delivery of the final solution by 28 Feb 2023. • Describe how you will identify risks and dependencies and they will be managed. Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers. • Can work with clients with low technical expertise. • Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions. • What approach is taken to making mistakes and learning from them. • Demonstrate social value through the delivery of this contract. Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Reference • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is this tender purely for the digital online programme – with the facilitated face to face and support work provided by other commissioned suppliers and/or Cafcass staff? This tender is for the design and development of new programme content and materials for both an e-learning module and to support facilitation of a group work session with participants who have completed the e-learning module. Providers to deliver the programme will be commissioned by separate tender. 2. Do you envisage the self-directed eLearning as a series of modules that learners will undertake? Or as a single module? The self-directed eLearning will be by a series of themed modules but that could be completed in a single session of between 1 and 1.5 hours, or progress can be saved and returned to at a later time. 3. What is estimated length of the eLearning online programme in terms of learner seat time? i.e. how long do you expect the parent to spend on the online programme? The new programme will be split into three stages. The first is an e-learning module that should be undertaken before Stage 2. It is anticipated that the e-learning will take the participant between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete. Stage 2 is an interactive face-to-face facilitator-led group session online (or in person) that takes place as a 2 to 2.5 hour workshop. A percentage of participants will be followed up with a phone call to measure impact of the programme upon completion of the programme and after an interval of 6 to 8 weeks. 4. Is the plan to use the content from the current programme as a basis for the new programme? The current SPIP will form the basis of the new programme with some additional content to be agreed with Cafcass and developed by the provider. Whilst the current SPIP programme was developed in 2009 with limited amendments, and is dated, much of the content remains relevant and can be retained. 5. Will Cafcass/the commissioned provider supply the content for the eLearning programme? In the main, yes. The provider may need to source some new content – to be agreed between provider and Cafcass in the discovery and mobilisation stage. 6. Will Cafcass provide the subject matter expertise for to advise on the content for this programme or will the supplier need to provide that? Cafcass will provide the majority of the content from the existing programme as well as additional resources it has available. Currently, Cafcass will not be acting as the subject expert but will be able to offer insight and support. It is not critical that the supplier is a subject matter expert, but it is preferable that they have a plan to find/access one where this becomes necessary. 7. Do you have any specific requirements/vision for the use of multimedia in the eLearning, i.e. animations, head to camera videos, dramatised scenarios, etc? Cafcass does not have a detailed list of requirements as to which resources will be required during which parts of the programme, but it is certain that animation, dramatised scenario videos, and head to camera work should be included, as well as quizzes etc to engage a varied audience and accommodate different learning styles. These requirements will be needed for both the eLearning and as content in facilitator-led group sessions. 8. Do you require the full programme to be available off-line? Yes 9. Will the successful tenderer also be required to produce offline materials for use in the group work sessions? Yes 10. Is there a specific requirement to provide the self-directed learning in multiple languages? If so, which languages? Is this part of the initial pricing and solution? Having multiple language options for the course is a requirement. The two most common languages we have interpreter requests for in the current SPIP programme are Polish and Urdu, but more options need to be available. As an accessibility requirement this is included in the initial pricing and expected solution. 11. What platform will the programme be hosted on? The platform is not yet defined. This is because the hosting arrangements will be established following a further procurement exercise. 12. Will BPSS security clearance be sufficient for online providers? It is sufficient for Admin access in a supplier system. 13. What are the technical requirements of this platform for hosting online content? Any hosting platform needs to comply with: • The Technology Code of Practice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Must hold Cyber Essentials (About Cyber Essentials - NCSC.GOV.UK) • Government technology standards and guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Make things accessible and inclusive - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Make use of open standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Define user needs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) • Make better use of data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 14. Does the budget apply to this online learning? Or the whole programme and other providers? The budget applies only to the content development tender – this tender. A separate tender for delivery partners will take place in due course with a separate budget allocation. 15. Can we have more clarity on your budget please. What is the total amount, is it £180k-£250k (inclusive of VAT) or £360k-£500k (inclusive of VAT)? Content development budget for this tender is £180-£250k (inclusive of VAT). 16. Once a shortlist is made, what is the planned procurement process? Timelines/Stages/Expectations? The timeline and associated dates are below: • Bidding closes: 04/05/2022 • Evaluation/moderation process: 05/05/2022 – 06/05/2022 • Interview/presentation and moderation – to be notified upon shortlisting: 11/05/2022 • Tender awarded: 16/05/2022 • Standstill till: 23/05/2022 • Commence: 01/06/2022 • Stakeholder engagement: First week June 2022 • Product complete and ready for testing: Jan/Feb 2023 • New service launch: 01/04/2023 17. What job roles is the evaluation panel made up of? • Service Manager, National Commissioning Team (NCT) • Content Designer and Strategist, NCT • Commissioning Support Officer, NCT • National Procurement Adviser, Procurement  • IT Transformation Manager 18. For the work that has already been done, did an external firm do this? The only work that has been carried out to date is a consultation process with stakeholders and an evidence review. These activities were carried out internally by Cafcass commissioning staff. 19. Is there an incumbent? – Please list the firm(s) involved in the previous stages of this procurement. There is no incumbent. There are 13 providers delivering the current Separated Parents Information Programme which can be found on the Cafcass website under Directory of Providers.