Provision of Family Time Services for Looked After Children

The London Borough of Hackney, is seeking to work in partnership with a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver the Provision of Family Time Services for Looked After Children. The service is for children who are Looked After by the local authority to spend time with their parents, siblings and/or extended family members.

The provider will deliver a specialised, targeted provision for children looked after by the local authority that provides them with the opportunity to have high quality, regular and consistent contact with their families.

Hackney Council has a statutory duty to ensure that Looked After Children see their parents and members of their extended family as long as it is in their best interest to do so and a stand alone Family Time service is required as nearly all supervised Family Time for school age children needs to take place outside of school hours including at weekends.

To ensure that the service is as accessible as possible, the provider will be given access to a centre located in Hackney which can be used as a venue. For the majority of children it is appropriate for them to return to Hackney to see their families with their foster carers accompanying them. It is hoped that the need for supervision reduces overtime and children can be supported to have Family Time in the community. However, the service will also be required to facilitate out of borough visits if appropriate.

It is intended that the contract will run for 3 years, with an option to extend for up to two further years in annual increments (3+1+1), commencing from 1st September 2025. The Council will be carrying out a Restricted Tender process for the procurement.

The Council is undertaking this tender process via its electronic (e) tendering portal, the London Tenders Portal [LTP].