Issue Based Advocacy & Independent Visitor Service for Children & Young People

Reading Borough Council (RBC / 'the Council') is looking for a service provider to deliver an issue based advocacy and independent visitor service for children/young people in Reading local authority care. Reading Borough Council's statutory requirement to provide these services derives from the Children Act 1989. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 s.26A imposes a duty on the Local Authority to make arrangements for the provision of advocacy services. Reading Borough Council is seeking to work with a provider to deliver issue based advocacy for children and young people aged between 5-25 years, and independent visitors for children and young people aged between 5-17 up until their 18th birthday or up to the age of 25 if a child or young person has Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) The Council intends to contract with a single organisation for the delivery of the full specification. The intended contract term will be an initial period of 3 years commencing 1st January 2019 and then two (2) possible one (1) year extensions subject to satisfactory contract performance and at the absolute discretion of the Council. Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment Regulations 2006) (TUPE) Applicants are advised that RBC believes that the transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 and/or European Communities Acquired Rights directive 77/187 may apply to this contract, however applicants must seek their own independent advice to determine whether TUPE regulations apply.