For the provision of a Higher Education Institution to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme for the East Midlands Regional Partnership (Cohorts 10 and 11)

Derby City Council (the Council) is undertaking this procurement to establish a contract for the provision of a single Higher Education Institution to deliver the Step Up to Social Work Programme for the East Midlands Regional Partnership (EMRP) for up to two cohorts (Cohorts 10 and 11) beginning March 2027. We will be procuring this contract for all Authorities/Bodies in the EMPR, which currently consists of:
• Derby City Council - Lead Authority
• Northamptonshire Children's Trust
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Leicester City Council
• Leicestershire County Council
• Derbyshire County Council
• Lincolnshire County Council
• Rutland County Council
The Step up to Social Work programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) with the intention of raising the standard of social workers who work in children's statutory services.
The programme recruits high calibre candidates who have a 2:2 degree and who already have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people or adults who want to train as social workers.
The procurement process adopted by the Council is based on the 'Open' tendering procedure as detailed in the Procurement Act 2023 (the "Act") and the Procurement Regulations 2024 (the "Regulations") but with the added flexibility offered by Light Touch Regime (Section 9 and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024) and any subsequent amendment or re-enactment thereof.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is underway in several areas across the country, including the East Midlands, and this may result in changes to council structures, service delivery and responsibilities, and geographical coverage during the life of the contract.
For this contract it is anticipated that the effects of LGR will not lead to an increased service demand or the need to extend provision to new areas or client groups. However, it may be necessary to novate the contract to a new entity (that may replace Derby City Council) in...