The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is leading a group of 8 local authorities in the West London Alliance to procure by competitive tender a contract for a Higher Education Institution (HEI) provider to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme funded by the Department for Education. The course trains social workers to Postgraduate Diploma level over 14 months; those wishing to obtain a Master's degree must complete the remaining credits within 2 years of their initial enrolment. The syllabus is designed to meet local needs and ensure that councils reap the benefits of a stable workforce as candidates are committed to a 2-year contract with the host authority after they qualify. The contract will run for 2 years from June 2017, with an option to extend for periods of up to 24 months up to a maximum term of 88 months, subject to biennial performance review and funding availability. One (1) member of academic staff will be eligible for TUPE transfer.
The procurement is a competitive tender to select a Higher Education Institution provider to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme which is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It will be conducted in accordance with the Open Procedure (Public Contracts Regulations 2015).
The participating host authorities are all members of the West London Alliance (WLA) and include the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster City Council. Hammersmith and Fulham Council will lead on the procurement and award the contract on behalf of other WLA members which will be for an initial period of 2 years, with an option to extend for periods of up to 24 months to a total of 88 months — subject to satisfactory biennial performance reviews and there being available funding from the DfE.
The Step Up programme trains aspiring social workers to Postgraduate Diploma level over a 14-month course that is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council. Graduates have the option to complete the remaining credits in a further course of studies to obtain a Master's degree in social work.