UK4 Tender Notice- Assessment of Needs Tool and Digital Platform for Children at Risk of Deprivation of Liberty

Department for Education (DfE) invites tenders for the procurement of an Assessment of Needs Tool and integrated digital platform. DfE is funding three pilot areas to test an integrated systems intervention model. The model brings together children’s social care, health, youth justice, education and other relevant partners to provide earlier, coordinated and evidence based responses for children at risk of or subject to deprivation of liberty. At the core of the model is a validated assessment of need tool that provides a holistic picture of each child’s needs, risks, strengths and required support. The tool will provide a whole-child picture and inform multidisciplinary planning through the Home Again service and support proactive, timely intervention. To ensure consistency, interoperability and effective multi agency working, the tool must be supported by a secure, integrated digital platform. The platform will enable professionals to complete assessments, share information appropriately, run local reports on activity and outcomes, and generate anonymised aggregate data for national analysis. Together, the tool and platform will strengthen systemwide understanding of this cohort, support better commissioning and planning decisions, and provide insights to inform practice models that keep children and young people (CYP) safe without unnecessary deprivation of liberty. In addition to improving practice in the pilot areas, this programme is intended to generate learning about the conditions required for effective implementation of a validated assessment of need tool across different local systems. This includes learning about organisational, cultural, technical and commercial factors that support or constrain adoption, usability, sustainability and impact across children’s social care, health and youth justice settings. DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.