Independent Adoption Support Services

Concepts

• independent adoption support services
• social work
• maidstone
• apse
• appropriate services
• intermediary services
• adoptive families
• services - direct
• independent support service
• service d

Location

Kent:

Description

APSE seeks to commission independent adoption support services which provides support for those affected by adoption by recognising that its effects extend to the entire family from the adoptee, adoptive families and birth families and acknowledging that its impact can last a lifetime. APSE will fulfil its statutory requirements by: 1. Ensuring the provision of a high-quality adoption service which guarantees the best possible standards of care, safety and protection for children or young people who are looked after and who need adoptive placements 2. Ensuring that all those whose lives have been affected by adoption are helped to identify and receive appropriate services 3. Working in partnership with adoptive families and other agencies ensuring the service is based on statutory requirements and good practice within the principles of value for money for the agency. These independent adoption support services are for those affected by adoption, specifically for the following: • Support for birth parents • Access to information and intermediary services for adult adoptees and birth relatives • Staying in Touch (Contact) Services for adopted children. The services to be delivered comprise of 4 distinct elements with each underpinned by a legislative framework: A. An independent support service to Birth Parents The provision of a support and counselling service to birth parents prior to an adoption taking place where a child is (or children are) in care and looked after by the local authority and for whom adoption has been identified as the plan. B. An access to Birth Records and intermediary service for Adult Adoptees This service assists adopted persons, either adopted through the local authority or who are resident within the areas covered by Adoption Partnership South East (APSE), and who are aged 18 years and over, to obtain information in relation to their adoption, and to facilitate contact between such persons and their adult birth relatives. C. Access to information and an intermediary service for Birth Relatives and those with a Prescribed relationship To provide access to non-identifying information regarding the adoption, advice and support to birth relatives aged 18 years and over, and those with a prescribed relationship who require intermediary services, when the adoptee has reached age 18 years and over. D. Staying in Touch (Contact Services - Direct and Indirect) The provision of a contact service for children under the age of 18 years who have been adopted and have contact with their birth relatives. The contact services include both an indirect letterbox service and a direct contact service (face to face).

Total Quantity or Scope

Service A: An independent support service to Birth Parents A maximum of 100 new referrals per year (eg every 12 month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract. Service B: An access to Birth Records and intermediary service for Adult Adoptees A maximum of 150 new referrals per year (eg every 12-month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract. Service C: Access to information and an intermediary service for Birth Relatives and those with a Prescribed relationship A maximum of 60 referrals per year for Intermediary Services for birth relatives (eg every 12 month period from contract commencement). This total does not include existing cases being worked which may need to be handed over as part of any mobilisation of the contract. Service D: Staying In Touch (Direct Contact) 45 Staying in Touch (direct contact) cases per year for adopted children Service D: Staying In Touch (Indirect Contact) 1850 individual children as active indirect Staying in Touch (contact) cases.

CPV Codes

• 85300000 - Social work and related services

Indicators

• This is a one-off contract (no recurrence)
• Renewals are not available.

Other Information

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