Newcastle City Council (''the Lead Authority'') is acting as the lead authority on behalf of the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and its Member Authorities, in respect of the procurement of this Flexible Procurement Agreement (Contract) for:
Lot 1 - Children's Advocacy,
Lot 2 - Independent Visitor Services
Lot 3 - Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 4 - Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints)
Lot 5 - Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 6 - Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints
Lot 7 - Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews
Delivery of Children's Advocacy Services.
The Participating Authorities have discussed the risks and benefits of appointing the same Provider to deliver services under both Lots I and 2. For the following reasons they have decided that they will be appointing different Providers to each Lot:
1) the cohort of Children / Young People eligible to access these services is different,
2) referrals routes for these services are different,
3) they feel that there is the potential for confusion of boundaries for the roles and responsibilities between advocates and independent visitors; these roles carry out two distinct functions, and
4) we feel that by appointing different Providers to deliver services under Lots 1 and 2 will encourage applications to a wider group of Providers, including smaller Providers who may only be able to provide Services under one of these Lots.
Provision of Independent Visitor Services.
The Participating Authorities have discussed the risks and benefits of appointing the same Provider to deliver services under both Lots I and 2. For the following reasons they have decided that they will be appointing different Providers to each Lot:
1) the cohort of Children / Young People eligible to access these services is different,
2) referrals routes for these services are different,
3) they feel that there is the potential for confusion of boundaries for the roles and responsibilities between advocates and independent visitors; these roles carry out two distinct functions, and
4) we feel that by appointing different Providers to deliver services under Lots 1 and 2 will encourage applications to a wider group of Providers, including smaller Providers who may only be able to provide Services under one of these Lots.
Provision of Investigating Officers (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints) Services
Delivery of Independent Persons (Children and Adult Stage Two Complaints) Services
Delivery of Independent Chairs for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints Services
Delivery of Independent Panellists for Stage Three Statutory Children's Social Care Complaints Services
Delivery of Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews Services