Integrated Mediation and Disagreement Resolution For Young People and Parents and Carers of Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities

Norfolk County Council has recently completed the award stage of a procurement process for an "Integrated Mediation and Disagreement Resolution For Young People and Parents and Carers of Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities" service. This procurement, rooted in the legal basis provided by the Children and Families Act 2014, aimed to establish a robust framework for handling SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution. The process was conducted via an open procedure and carries a contract value of £600,000, with an overall gross amount of £720,000 funded to cover service costs.

The locations covered by this procurement include several regions within the UK, specifically UKH15 to UKH17. The contract, awarded to Anglia Care Trust, is expected to start on 1st September 2025 and run until 31st August 2028, with a potential future extension. Key dates include the release of assessment summaries on 24th June 2025, and the end of the standstill period scheduled for 4th July 2025.

This procurement creates substantial opportunities for SMEs and VCSEs, particularly those with expertise in health and social work services, to capitalise on the evolving needs in the SEND domain. The open procedure adopted for this procurement suggests a transparent competitive process that favoured businesses adept in handling specialized mediation services. With the significant involvement of SMEs, this contract exemplifies an avenue for smaller businesses to demonstrate their capacity and scale their operations by contributing to crucial local government initiatives.

Companies experienced in managing service delivery plans, particularly around educational and health care policy compliance, are ideally suited to participate in such opportunities, which aim not only for effective service provision but also for fostering long-term cooperative relationships within community sectors.