Short Breaks Services Framework (CSC25128)

Opportunity overview

Worcestershire County Council is seeking qualified and experienced suppliers to deliver services that support the Council to fulfil its Sufficiency Duty in relation to short breaks for Children with Disabilities and to improve the overall outcomes for these children. The framework agreement will assist the Council to improve the availability of suitable short breaks at the right time and right location, delivering the right support, ensuring that the Council’s Children in Care: • Receive the best care possible to meet their needs. • Are effectively supported to improve their individual outcomes. • Have their welfare promoted and are effectively safeguarded. The open framework is divided into four (4) Lots: • Lot 1 – Overnight Fostering Short Breaks • Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks • Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care • Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers The Council is seeking to put in place an open framework to establish the initial framework and appoint one or more Suppliers to deliver services. This Procurement is intended to set up a list of approved Suppliers. There is no limit to the number of Suppliers who can join the framework. Call-off Award Procedures will then be conducted, and Call-off contracts will then be awarded. The initial open framework was for Lot 1 – Overnight Fostering Short Breaks and Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks only, with new open framework start date of 1st November 2026. Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care and Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers 4 will continue on the existing Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) until 28th February 2027. The framework for Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care and Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers is now open with a start date of 1st March 2027. Lot 1– Overnight Fostering Short Breaks and Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks are also open again for new applications. All Lots will reopen at least annually in the autumn.

Lot 1 — Lot 1 - Overnight Fostering Short Breaks

Lot 1 – Overnight Fostering Short Breaks covers the provision of planned overnight short breaks within the home of an approved foster carer that meet regulatory standards. The service provides family-based respite care for children and young people with disabilities and/or complex needs who are assessed as benefiting from a foster family environment.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £2.4m

Award criterion: Quality Questionnaire

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 1 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 October 2034

Lot 2 — Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks

Lot 2 – Overnight Residential Short Breaks covers the provision of planned overnight short breaks within a registered children’s home setting. The service provides respite care for children and young people with disabilities and/or complex needs who are assessed as benefiting from a residential environment.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £2.4m

Award criterion: Quality Questionnaire

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 1 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 October 2030

Lot 3 — Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care

Lot 3 – Domiciliary Care covers the provision of one-to-one or two-to-one care (daily living activities, personal care, and household tasks) to children and young people aged 0-18 years with SEND and their families in their home.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £3.5m

Award criterion: Quality Questionnaire

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 1 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 October 2034

Lot 4 — Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers

Provision under Lot 4 – Short Breaks Support Workers includes help and support to children and young people at their home and to enable and facilitate access to activities in the community.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £9.1m

Award criterion: Quality Questionnaire

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 1 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 October 2034

Contracting authority

Worcestershire County Council County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP, UKG12, United Kingdom Email: procurement@worcestershire.gov.uk Website: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk

Procurement timetable and procedure

Procedure: Open procedure

Special regime: Light Touch Regime

Clarification deadline: 28 October 2026 at 04:00 pm

Submission deadline: 16 November 2026 at 04:00 pm

Award decision expected by: 21 December 2026 at 11:59 pm

Electronic submissions: allowed

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

85000000 — Health and social work services; 85300000 — Social work and related services; 85311000 — Social work services with accommodation; 85311300 — Welfare services for children and young people; 85312000 — Social work services without accommodation; 85312200 — Homedelivery of provisions; 85312400 — Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions; 98000000 — Other community, social and personal services

How to submit

The official Find a Tender notice directs suppliers to In-Tend. The procurement documents, clarifications and response area are managed there.

Open In-Tend ↗

TenderLab qualification first

Before we write, we establish whether the opportunity fits.

We examine the published participation conditions, service scope, geography, regulatory position, available evidence, mobilisation demands and commercial exposure with your team. We only confirm a full tender-writing engagement when the available information supports a responsible view that the provider meets the tender requirements.

If Short Breaks Services Framework (CSC25128) is a credible fit, we can map the scored requirements, gather operational evidence and build the response around the buyer documents. The qualification check and any writing support do not guarantee an award; the contracting authority makes the final decision.