CN220350 - Therapies: SEN, Adoption Support Service and VSK (previously SC21032)

SEN Therapies (Lot 1) The Council recognises that SEN therapy service providers have an important role in improving a child or young person's (CYP's) participation in learning experiences and access to curriculum opportunities and outcomes for our children who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Council aims to establish a relational contracting approach with providers on the Qualified Provider List (QPL) that will: • recognise the interdependencies between local authorities, service providers, Ofsted and other stakeholders; • facilitate co operation, shared learning and improvement; • enable the Council to anticipate and respond quickly to the changing needs of CYP with an EHC plan; • support joint working between the Council's education services and therapy service providers to help improve outcomes for CYP with an EHC plan; • help ensure sufficiency and suitability of therapy provision tailored to the current and anticipated needs of CYP with an EHC plan; and • ensure fairness in commercial arrangements between commissioners and providers, with transparency of prices.

Adoption Support Service (Lot 2) The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) has been established to help adoptive families access the services they need more easily. The ASF provides funds to local authorities (LAs) and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to pay for essential therapeutic services for eligible adoptive families and families with a Special Guardianship Order (SGO).

The aim of the ASF and the support it funds is to: • improve outcomes for young people and families; • improve the core adoption/SGO support offered to families; and • build the evidence base so that interventions demonstrate their effectiveness and value for money. Virtual Schools Kent (Lot 3) Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of children looked after by the local authority.

For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required to support access to, or engagement with, education. Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK).

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+), or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding can be used to pay for activities that: a) improve the learning targets in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and interested in their education. Entry into this contract does not guarantee that the Council will purchase Therapy Services from any bidder, but it will ensure that the successful bidder is included on the Council's QPL.

Where, in the reasonable professional opinion of the Council, there is only one provider with the relevant expertise to provide the required Therapy Services to a particular CYP, the Council may approach a single provider on the QPL. No call off and/or contract for any requested Therapy Services shall be deemed to have taken place or been formed until the Council formally accepts the price quoted by the chosen provider in accordance with the Framework Agreement.

Successful bidders shall be invited to sign the Framework Agreement and join the QPL for the appropriate lots they have bid for ("Framework Agreement"). Entry into this contract does not guarantee that the Council will purchase Therapy Services from any bidder, but it will ensure that the successful bidder is included on the Council's QPL.

As and when the Council requires specific Therapy Services, the Council shall: 1. review the QPL and select providers that have the professional qualifications to deliver the required services; 2. start a mini competition by submitting a call off request to those selected providers in accordance with the Framework Agreement (Order Form or request for service from the relevant service - SEN Therapies (Lot 1) or Adoption Support Service (Lot 2)); 3. request a final price for the relevant Therapy Services; and 4. decide whether to proceed with the required Therapy Services at the price stated, based on the award criteria set out in the Framework Agreement. Where, in the reasonable professional opinion of the Council, there is only one provider with the relevant expertise to provide the required Therapy Services to a particular CYP, the Council may approach a single provider on the QPL.

No call off and/or contract for any requested Therapy Services shall be deemed to have taken place or been formed until the Council formally accepts the price quoted by the chosen provider in accordance with the Framework Agreement. Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of all children looked after by the local authority.

For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required in order to support access to, or engagement with, education. Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18 years, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK).

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+) or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding may be used to pay for activities that: a) improve the learning targets set out in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and motivated by their education. Therapeutic support provided under this lot should not be regarded as an alternative health provision or a replacement for therapy services that may be commissioned through the NHS. Services provided to support PEP targets often involve intensive specialist interventions or approaches required to maintain educational placements and promote progress.