Preventing Recurrent Care Proceedings Service (Pause Programme)

Bradford Children & Families Trust (BCFT) is committed to delivering high‑quality services that safeguard, support, and promote the welfare of children and families across the Bradford District. As part of this commitment, BCFT will commission the delivery of the Pause Programme, a specialist service designed for parents who have previously had children removed from their care.

BCFT intends to commission a service that strengthens the safety and wellbeing of children and families by addressing the complex needs of mothers who have experienced significant adversity. The service will offer intensive, specialist, and trauma‑informed interventions to support women dealing with the emotional impact of child removal, loss, and past trauma.

The service will provide evidence‑based, personalised support to women across the Bradford District who have had children removed from their care. Through therapeutic interventions, improved access to health and community services, and focused work on resilience and life‑skills development, the service aims to break intergenerational cycles of harm.

The overall goal is to improve long‑term outcomes for women and reduce the likelihood of future care proceedings. This contract will run for a maximum duration of seven (7) years, beginning with an initial 42‑month term starting on 1 September 2026. BCFT may also apply two optional extensions of up to 21 months each, covering the periods 1 March 2030 – 30 November 2031 and 1 December 2031 – 31 August 2033.