Provision of Childrens Rights Advocacy and Independent Visitors Services

This is NOT a call for competition or request to participate. Herefordshire Council intends to commence a competitive procurement for the provision of the Children's Rights and Advocacy Service and the Independent Visitors Service. It is anticipated that the procurement will be carried out using the open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 using the Light Touch Regime permitted under the Procurement Act 2023, Section 9, and therefore applying the flexibilities afforded under the above regulation. The Children's Rights and Advocacy Service supports children and young people to understand and exercise their rights, ensuring that their views, wishes and feelings are heard and represented. The Independent Visitor Service provides children and young people in care with access to a consistent, independent and trusted adult relationship that promotes their wellbeing, resilience and positive outcomes. Both services are statutory functions and play an important role in supporting vulnerable children and young people open to Herefordshire's social care services, whether placed within or outside the county boundaries. The Council intends to procure these services as two separate contract lots, allowing providers to bid for either individual lot or both lots. This approach is intended to maximise competition, encourage participation from a broad range of providers and provide flexibility in the delivery of these services.