Fostering and Adoption Medicals

Essex County Council (“ECC”) currently commission Fostering & Adoption Medical Advisory Services across the 4 ECC quadrants North, West, Mid and South. This service is required to deliver the statutory functions for the provision of medical advisory reports to Fostering and Adoption Panels as set out in the Adoption Services Regulations 2005, the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for both Adoption and Fostering. Current contracts for the service are due to expire in March 2024.ECC are looking to procure a 7 year contract for the four ECC quadrants.

The medical advisor should be a paediatrician who is fully registered with the GMC and has an enhanced DBS check. Services within the contract will include :

Initial written report for panel on the health of prospective adopter / foster carer

Review report for panel on the health of adopter / foster carer

Initial written health report for panel on each child being considered for adoption

Preparation for an adoption / fostering panel

Attendance at adoption / fostering panel

Review health report for each child being considered for adoption

Meeting with prospective adopters

Indicative service figures per annum per quadrant are:

Medical reports for prospective Foster Carers – approximately 60

Medical reports for prospective Adopters – approximately 48

Medical reports for children being put forward for adoption – approximately 43

Essex County Council (ECC) is seeking expressions of interest from providers that can deliver this contract either pan Essex or for individual quadrants.