Open Framework for the delivery of Short Break Activities and Personal Care Services for Children with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities

The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (the Council), in partnership with Bradford Children and Families Trust and wider system partners, is undertaking a transformation of Short Break Services for children with disabilities, complex health needs, or special educational needs. As part of this programme, the Council intends to recommission SEND Short Breaks and Personal Care Services through the establishment of an Open Framework.

This notice invites applications from suitably qualified suppliers to be admitted to the Open Framework to deliver these services. The Framework will operate for an initial period of eight (8) years.

It will be an Open Framework, reopening once within the first three years and at least once during the remaining five-year term, in accordance with Regulation 49 of the Procurement Act 2023. The Council may choose to reopen the Framework more frequently, including annually, depending on service need.

The Framework Agreement will be divided into three (3) Lots: • Lot 1 – Personal Care Services for Children with Disabilities or Complex Health Needs (CQC-regulated) • Lot 2 – Short Break Activities for Children with Disabilities or Complex Health Needs (regulated by CQC or Ofsted) • Lot 3 – Community-Based Short Break Activities for Children with Disabilities, Special Educational Needs and/or Complex Health Needs (unregulated) A maximum of 12 suppliers will be appointed to Lot 1. For Lots 2 and 3, all suppliers who meet the minimum benchmark requirements will be eligible for award, as there is no cap on the number of successful providers.

Suppliers may bid for multiple Lots and may be appointed to more than one Lot. The Council will establish the Framework Agreement using a single-stage Open Procedure, in line with the relevant provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 governing the operation of Open Frameworks.

The services set out in Lot 1 are targeted and specialist services designed for children and young people who have been identified as requiring an individual package of care for personal care services (primarily in the home) by Providers who are registered with the CQC. This has been separated from the delivery of short break activities.

Lot 1 is specifically for the delivery of personal care services to children to support parents and carers where the need for assistance has been identified with daily personal care tasks, in line with a child’s Care and Support Plan. Whist support will primarily be delivered in the family’s own home, delivery in the community may be required and could be delivered by exception.

It is anticipated that in the majority of cases where personal care is required outside of the home this would be delivered through Lot 2. There are a small number of children who receive support for their personal care but no short break (around 8) and therefore it is important that there is a Lot for this purpose alone.

There is likely to be an ongoing need for at least some one-to-one support for short breaks even in the context of moving to a more group activity-based approach. In 24/25 89 children were supported with a care package that included personal care and or individual short break support across 63,544 hours at a total cost of £1,493,318.

It is anticipated that Providers who are able to deliver both personal care in the home and short break activities apply for both Lot 1 and Lot 2, even if they only plan to offer one-to-one support, rather than group activities. The services set out for Lot 2 are targeted and specialist services designed for children and young people who have been identified as requiring short break activities required to be delivered by Providers who are registered with a regulatory body (OFSTED or CQC).

These activities enable children to access fulfilling, fun and interesting experiences, giving them opportunities to develop lasting friendships and life skills that will support them throughout their adult lives. The SEND Short Breaks transformation includes plans to develop the use of Family Hubs and Special Schools, to maximise the use of spaces that have been specifically developed to meet the needs of children with disabilities.

Pilot projects will explore partnerships between voluntary and community sector organisations and Special Schools / Family Hubs in the delivery of Short Break Activities. This activity will be delivered across Lots 2 and 3.

Most short break activities will take place in community or provider settings. Where a child is receiving support for a short break activity in the home this will be commissioned through Lot 2, rather than Lot 1, and to make the distinction clear, the personal care support will be listed separately from the short break activity both within the child’s care and support plan and on the invoice from the Provider.

As stated for Lot 1, in 24/25 89 children were supported with a care package that included personal care and or individual short break support across 63,544 hours at a total cost of £1,493,318. In addition, 37 children received approximately 4,577 hours of lower level support in regulated settings at a cost of around £51,000.

In their tender application, Providers should state the ages of children they can deliver Short Break Activities for, the length of sessions offered and the range of session types. These should be tailored to children by type of need and age, ensuring activities, environments, and staffing are suitable for the developmental needs of the children.

Providers should state whether they will be able to provide one-to-one support, or group activities, or both. The services set out in this Lot are for targeted and specialist services designed for children and young people who have been identified as requiring Short Break Activities, but the nature of support will be such that there is no requirement for regulation by CQC or OFSTED.

More generic short break activities supporting children with a wider range of needs may also be included in this Lot. The activities enable children to access fulfilling, fun and interesting experiences, giving them opportunities to develop lasting friendships and life skills that will support them throughout their adult lives.

Provision will focus on community participation, recreational activities, and early help style support that promotes independence, social development, and inclusion. Services may include group activities, supported attendance at clubs, holiday schemes, supervised play, day trips, and light touch 1:1 support that does not meet the criteria for regulation.

Whilst Lot 3 is primarily designed for children with lower level needs, it does not preclude children or young people with more complex needs from accessing these services where regulation is not required. Where Lot 3 providers have the appropriate skills, experience, and capacity to safely meet individual needs, they may support children with higher levels of need as part of a graduated, needs based approach across all lots.

This ensures flexibility, maximises access to inclusive opportunities, and supports children and families to receive the right level of provision at the right time, preventing escalation of need and promoting positive experiences for all. In 2024/25 approximately 112 children were supported in unregulated community settings at a cost of £41,604 across 14,464 hours.

In their tender application, Providers should state the ages of children they can deliver Short Break Activities for, the length of sessions offered and the range of session types. These should be tailored to children by type of need and age, ensuring activities, environments, and staffing are suitable for the developmental needs of the children.