Repeat Care Proceedings Prevention Service

Nottingham City Council is seeking to appoint a single experienced provider to deliver a trauma-informed programme of support for parents who have experienced the removal of a child through care proceedings.

The service will provide a sustained, relationship-based programme of support delivered over a period of 12 to 18 months. The programme aims to improve parental wellbeing, emotional resilience and stability by addressing complex unmet needs and the impact of trauma. It will support safer family environments, reduce exposure to domestic abuse, decrease reliance on crisis services, and help prevent repeat care proceedings and subsequent child removals.

Delivery will include one-to-one practitioner support, outreach in home and community settings, and coordination with relevant agencies to facilitate access to appropriate services. Support must be available to mothers, fathers, partners and, where safe and appropriate, non-resident parents. Appointments must be accessible and flexible, including evening and outreach provision where required.

Where appropriate and consistent with permanence arrangements, the service may also support parents to maintain or develop positive relationships with their children.

- Contract Term and Value

The contract is anticipated to start on 1 April 2027. The initial contract term will be for three (3) years, with the option to extend for up to two (2) further periods of one (1) year each at the Authority's sole discretion (3 + 1 + 1), giving a maximum possible contract duration of five (5) years.

The estimated total contract value is £1,500,000 excluding VAT over the maximum potential contract term, including any extensions. This value excludes any inflationary uplifts.

- Mandatory Requirements and Rejection Criteria

Tender submissions will be rejected where:

the Pricing Schedule is incomplete or has not been submitted as part of the tender response;

the total annual cost exceeds the maximum annual contract value of £300,000; or

the submitted costs do not demonstrate that at least 50% of the total contract cost is allocated to frontline staff.