Missing Services including Return Interviews & Child Sexual Exploitation Services for Young People

This contract is to provide services for children and young people who are the responsibility of Buckinghamshire County Council and live in the county or within 20 miles of its borders and who go missing from home or care or who are at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). Buckinghamshire County Council has commissioned CSE services since 2006 and missing services since 2007.

The contract has 3 aims:
1. To reduce the incidence of repeat episodes of young people going missing.
2. To reduce and prevent young people from being sexually exploited.
3. To support young people who go missing or are victims of CSE.

For the missing element of the contract it is expected that the service provider will offer and carry out Return Interviews with young people who have returned from going missing from home or care and undertake direct work with them to reduce the likelihood of repeat missing episodes and to reduce the risks to them should they go missing again.

With regard to the CSE element of the contract, the service provider is expected to undertake direct work with young people who have been identified as being at risk of CSE.

For both elements of the contract it is expected that the service provider will undertake a programme of preventative work with young people, work collaboratively with partners in multi-agency settings, undertake a programme of awareness raising and education with adults living and working in Buckinghamshire and ensure that information is shared appropriately, securely and compliant with local protocols.

The Council is also seeking the service provider to deliver an holistic and integrated service that provides added value for the benefit of children and young people which will include; preventive work, additional support, innovative approaches and support to non-eligible young people.

The contract start date is 1st April 2017. The contract will be for an initial period of three years with the option to extend for a further period of 2 x 12 months. TUPE will apply to this contract.

A budget cap has been set for the Missing Services including Return Interviews & Child Sexual Exploitation Services for Young People £912,000 for the full three year contract period.

A Bidder’s Meeting will take place on Thursday 4th August 2016 from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Aylesbury; details are provided in the invitation to tender documents.