Market Engagement - Integrated Care Model for Children and Young People (Children's Homes)

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham are seeking to engage with providers of children's homes to inform future commissioning arrangements for children with severe, complex behavioural needs and/or significant mental health needs.

The Council is particularly interested in developing local capacity and exploring opportunities to support children to remain as close to their communities as practicable. While there is an interest in provision located within or close to the borough, the Council welcomes engagement from all providers with relevant experience, expertise and capacity.

The Council is exploring a range of potential commissioning and contracting models, which may include block purchasing arrangements, strategic partnerships, or other contractual approaches, subject to future business requirements, procurement considerations and approvals.

The aim of this market engagement exercise is to develop a better understanding of:

• Current market capability and capacity;
• Innovative approaches to supporting children with complex needs;
• Opportunities for integrated and multidisciplinary support models;
• Potential barriers, risks and implementation considerations; and
• The feasibility of developing a local care estate that enables more children to remain closer to home.

Providers with relevant regulatory registrations, experience, facilities and specialist expertise are invited to participate and share their views.

The virtual market engagement details are as below:

Date: 30th July 2026

Time: 11 to 12 noon

Interested Providers should register their interest by contacting [email protected] no later than 12 noon, Wednesday 29th July.

Important Notice

This engagement is being undertaken solely for information-gathering and market-testing purposes. It does not constitute a call for competition, procurement exercise, or commitment by the Council to commence a procurement or award any contract. Participation in this engagement will not provide any advantage in any future procurement process, should one be undertaken. The Council will ensure that any future procurement is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and applicable regulations.