Supported Housing for Young People, Care Experienced Young People and Young Parents, all aged 16-25 ...

Swindon Borough Council invites you to contribute to preliminary market engagement in relation to the provision of Supported Housing for children and young people, care experienced young people and young parents, all aged 16-25.

We welcome the views of suppliers on the questions set out in the questionnaire. The intention is to invite supplier feedback to help shape the final specification and commercial model to ensure the tender delivers the optimum outcomes for the Council. Word counts are indicative and maximum limits. you are NOT required to fill the word count and this is NOT a competitive process.

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Local authorities in England have a strict duty to secure accommodation for homeless 16-17 year olds, often under children's services (Section 20, Children Act 1989), while those aged 18-25 are generally owed duties under the Housing Act 1996 if they are in "priority need," such as being care leavers, pregnant, or vulnerable. This contracted service represents the Local Authority’s main provision towards delivering this duty.

Key Housing Duties (16–25):
16–17 Year Olds: Considered "children in need." Local authorities must provide accommodation if they are lost, abandoned, or the person caring for them cannot provide accommodation. They cannot simply be referred to housing services; they must be jointly assessed by Social Services and the Housing department.

18–25 Year Olds (Care Experienced Young People): Young people who spent time in care between 16 and 18 and qualify for support under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000) are automatically in priority need.

18–25 Year Olds (Vulnerability): Young people may be considered in priority need if they are vulnerable due to a disability, serious health condition, or being a care experienced young people. This assessment is made by the local authority's Housing department.

Emergency Housing: If the local authority has reason to believe a 16–25-year-old is homeless, eligible, and in priority need, they must provide interim accommodation.

Duty to Prevent Homelessness:
For all applicants under 25, local authorities must, by law, work with them to take reasonable steps to prevent or relieve homelessness within 56 days.

The successful supplier will work collaboratively with Swindon Borough Council and partner agencies, whilst taking a proactive approach to delivering high quality services in support of Swindon’s stated improvement journey.

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DN814051

The initial contract term will be for 36 months with an option to extend for a further 24 months (2 individual periods of 12 months) for a potential total contract term of 5 years.

Estimated contract spend is £2-3m across the initial 3-year contract term and £4-5m across the potential total 5-year contract term.

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Engagement Process Description:
To participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement Suppliers will need to Register as a Supplier with ProContract,?www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk, then Register an Interest before obtaining access to the Preliminary Market Engagement documents.

Responses to the Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire are required to be submitted no later than 15th May 2026 at 23:30pm, UK Local time via ProContract tender portal -?https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/