Provision of Independent Advocacy & Independent Visitor Services
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
The Bradford Children & Families Trust is currently in the tender stage for the "Provision of Independent Advocacy & Independent Visitor Services," focusing on social work services for Looked-After Children or Care Leavers. The procurement process follows an open procedure, allowing for both SMEs and VCSEs to submit proposals. This tender is sub-categorised into two Lots: Lot 1 for Independent Advocacy and Lot 2 for Independent Visitor Services.
Located in Bradford, UK, this initiative is a joint effort with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Key deadlines include an enquiry period ending on 10th November 2025 and a tender submission deadline on 20th November 2025. The contracts are slated to commence on 1st April 2026, running for two years with a potential one-year extension.
This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in social work and related services to expand within the public sector. By aligning with statutory obligations and advocating efficient, innovative approaches to service delivery, participating businesses can contribute to a critical social initiative while potentially solidifying their market position. Firms experienced in providing high-quality independent advocacy and visitor services and who can effectively meet the needs of children and young people will be well-suited to compete.
Moreover, the emphasis on cost-effectiveness and innovative solutions may attract enterprises eager to showcase their value-for-money initiatives.
Partners from Bradford Children and Families Trust and the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council are working together to review and develop Independent Visiting and Advocacy Services for Bradford's Looked-After Children or Care Leavers. Legislation imposes a duty on local authorities to make arrangements for the provision of advocacy and to appoint an independent visitor for children and young people intending to make representations under the Children Act 1989 (Adoption and Children Act 2002). As well as requiring an Independent Visiting and Advocate service to meet its statutory obligations, Bradford Children's and Families Trust wishes to work with the successful partner to adopt a casework approach which will utilise generic lessons learnt from advocates' work to develop more child-centred services.
Children and young people eligible to receive a service are aged 0 to 21 years and up to 25 in the case of Care Leavers in full-time education The Trust BCFT is seeking to work with providers who can demonstrate continual improvements in value for money achieved by deploying efficient and innovative ways to meet the needs of the children and young people The programme of services is divided into 2 Lots, which are as follows:
- Lot 1: Independent Advocacy for Looked After Children
- Lot 2: Independent Visitor Services The contracts will commence from 1st April 2026, for an initial period of 2 years, with 1 option to extend by up to 12 months.
The central role of an advocate is to support children and young people to express their wishes and feelings to decision-makers, and ensure their rights are upheld. The Service will offer professional, high-quality independent advocacy to children and young people across all categories of need, who are users of Children's Social Care.
An Independent Visitor's role is to visit and befriend a child in care who has little or no family time with their birth parents and would benefit from having an adult in their lives who can give them support, advice and take an interest in their affairs. The objective of the Independent Visitor Service is to recruit, train, match, and manage a pool of volunteer Independent Visitors for the population of children in care covered within the scope of this specification.
Procurement Classification
Notice type, method, and CPV codes
Contract Values
Financial information and value estimates
The contract period is two years.
Key Dates
Publication, submission, and award timeline
Notice Status
Current status of tender, lots, awards, and contracts
Contracting Authority
Buyer organisation and contact details
Awarded Supplier
Supplier who was awarded this contract
Documents & Links
External resources and data downloads
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector.
Need help with your tender submission?
Our expert team can help you prepare a winning bid. Get professional support from CareSync Experts.
Get in touch with our team at Care Sync Experts today for a consultation.
Email: hello@caresyncexperts.co.uk
Phone: 0333 577 0877
Contact UsBidding for contracts like this
Other tenders in Bradford
- PSR -NON-OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUND INSOURCING in Bradford
- BTH25-192 Insourcing of Therapy teams for Stroke in Bradford
- Market Engagement Event for SEND Short Breaks and Personal Care Services for Children in the Bradford District in Bradford
- Market Engagement Event - Provision of Supervised Family Time Contact Services in Bradford
- Smoking Cessation, Provision of Prescription only Medication across Bradford District in Bradford
- Extra Care Services at one scheme in the Bradford District in Bradford