680/2017 - In house Foster Care Recruitment Service - Market Engagement

The London Borough of Croydon invites suitable expressions of interest to: 680/2017 - In house Foster Care Recruitment Service, Market Engagement Event.
Date: Wednesday 20th December 2pm – 4pm
Venue: London Borough of Croydon
Room F9, Croydon Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR0 1XW



The London Borough of Croydon (LBC) is conducting a market engagement event. The purpose of this event is to enable LBC to have a discussion with current and potential providers who undertake recruitment and assessments of fostering families.

The London Borough of Croydon has the highest proportion of children in foster placements in London. 760 children are in foster placement (85%) compared with (74%) nationally. Analysis shows a continuing demand for foster placements which needs to be met through the increase of our in-house foster care capacity by 30 new foster families each year over the next 3 years.

To deliver a more effective service, we are planning on developing a blended approach to marketing, recruitment and assessment of our foster carers with elements of the service managed in house.

Our intention is to commission two separate services, which are outlined below:
• Service 1 - Marketing campaign to increase the general awareness of fostering in the borough and fostering for Croydon Council;
• Service 2 – Elements of recruitment and assessment of fostering families.

To ensure we are moving forwards with the most successful model, we are inviting interested organisations to attend our market engagement event. This will provide the opportunity to feedback any comments and suggestions on our proposed model.

This discussion will inform service remodelling and development in Croydon in a way that allows the authority to maximise the resources available for this service.

The event will touch on the following topics:

• The current position including levels of need
• An outline of the service requirements
• The outcomes required
• A discussion with potential providers of the suggested requirements
• A provisional tender timetable
This market engagement activity does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works for the Council and the Council is not bound to accept any proposals offered.

The Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in this exercise. Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the Council in due course will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions in the UK and EU Procurement Regulations.


To register your attendance at this event please e mail vivienne.weeks@croydon.gov.uk with the name of your company and the names of the delegates you wish to attend.

We would request that a maximum of two delegates from each organisation attends the event.


Deadlines
The deadline for registering your attendance is 12 noon on Monday 18th December 2017.