Accommodation and support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children

Cardiff Council is seeking to commission an experienced provider organisation to provide and deliver accommodation and semi-independent support to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children across the City.

Up to 36 young people will reside in the accommodation at any one time. Expansion of the provision may be required within the term of the contract. This will be capped to a maximum of 4 additional beds per year, but may be less.

The service will provide long term provision, up to a maximum of 2 years between the young people’s 16th and 18th birthdays. The provider will oversee the young people’s development into adulthood, adopting a light-touch approach to facilitate them at all times to act independently, while monitoring attendance at college, appointments and other community-based activities.

Full details of the service requirements will be published in the tender packs, however, it is anticipated that the provider must be able to demonstrate, but not limited to the following:

Have within the County boundary, sufficient capacity of staff, delivery model and accommodation to provide to a minimum of 36 young people.

Be able to demonstrate they are able to deliver a culturally sensitive service.

Be able to demonstrate they are suitably experienced in delivering semi-independent support.

Be able to provide throughout the term of the agreement, a sufficient volume of suitable accommodation in residential areas of Cardiff.

Be able to provide an accommodation portfolio structured in such a way as to enable cultural matching of residents.

Be able to undertake all maintenance tasks associated with the upkeep of the properties to a high standard, including the provision and repair of fittings and furnishings.

Have appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding, Complaints / Compliments (including whistle blowing), Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Support & Supervision and Data Protection.

Have appropriately monitored and audited systems, in compliance with financial regulations, to undertake the distribution of funds to residents.

Cardiff Council will hold a virtual market engagement event / issue a questionnaire to understand the level of potential interest that exists in the market, your views about what can be delivered, and timescale for setup. Details of the event / questionnaire will be confirmed in response to expressions of interest.