Tender: Independent Visitor Service (Regulation 44) for Bradford Children’s Homes

About

Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) is seeking a suitably experienced provider to deliver an Independent Visitor Service in accordance with Regulation 44 to carry out independent monthly visits to its registered children’s homes across the Bradford District. The current requirement covers nine registered children’s homes (a minimum of 108 visits per year), with the number of homes subject to change during the contract term; visits may be announced or unannounced and should take place at varied times including evenings, weekends and school holidays where appropriate. The provider will assess quality of care, safeguarding, how each home promotes children’s welfare and wellbeing, and provide independent scrutiny of leadership, management, practice, records and the physical environment, engaging meaningfully with children, staff, managers, families and relevant professionals and producing timely, evidence-based Regulation 44 reports that meet statutory and Ofsted requirements and identify strengths, areas for improvement, safeguarding concerns, emerging themes and recommended actions. The anticipated contract term is three years with an option to extend for a further twelve months, the maximum total contract value is £240,000 excluding VAT (inclusive of the optional extension), the requirement is not divided into lots and BCFT intends to appoint a single provider via a below-threshold competitive tender under the Procurement Act 2023.