Overnight and Related Short Breaks Respite

Descriptions

This is a Market Engagement Exercise and not a call for competition.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking to commission a high-quality Overnight and Related Short Breaks service eligible to children and young people (CYP) with special educational needs and/or disabilities aged 5 to 18 and living in the borough. The commissioning of this service enables the Council to meet its statutory duty under the Children and Families Care Act 2014.

The provision contains essential services that enable and support CYP with a disability to live ordinary family lives, to have fun, try new activities, gain independence, and make friends, whilst providing parents and carers with a much-needed respite from their caring responsibilities.

Our requirements are split into two lots.

Lot 1 - Provision for children and young people with autism spectrum condition (ASC) accompanied by severe learning disabilities and/or behaviour that is challenging.

Lot 2 - Provision for children and young people with complex health needs (CN), including those with physical and/ or learning disabilities, those who require palliative care (continuing care) and those with associated sensory impairments.

Each provision is to provide the following core services:

Overnight weekend short breaks (during school term-time)

Day weekend placement

Overnight holiday short breaks (during school half-term) and

Afterschool clubs

The organisations that we are seeking to engage via this Preliminary Market Engagement must have experience of delivering services to disabled CYP and have access to an appropriate Ofsted registered residential setting (s) in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, that is either owned or leased by the service provider for the duration of the contract. The residential provision must have capacity for up to 5 children under each respective Lot.

The service will be delivered flexibly, using a person-centred approach, and responding to the changing needs of the family.

Engagement

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to provide advance notice to the marketplace for the upcoming tender opportunity and the intention of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to hold a preliminary market engagement session to identify potential suppliers to ensure the submission of strong bids. Market Engagement Session To provide potential suppliers with more information about the upcoming opportunity, we are hosting an online Market Engagement session that will take place on Monday 18th August 2025 (14:00 - 15:00). The session is advertised openly using this notice. Suppliers wishing to attend the Preliminary market engagement session should be capable of meeting the procurement description/requirements outlined within this notification. If you would like to attend, please register your interest free of charge at: www.londontenders.org with the name, position, email address and contact details of attendee/s. The deadline for registration is Thursday 14th August 2025, 13:00 hours. NOTE: Attendance at the market engagement is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement.