SEMG Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service

Local Authorities in the South East Mediation Group (SEMG) have a long history of collaboration in commissioning and providing mediation services. The Children and Families Act 2014 and associated statutory regulations and guidance introduced legislation for the provision of disagreement resolution and mediation concerning special educational provision with effect 1 September 2014.

Oxfordshire County Council is managing the tendering arrangements on behalf of the SEMG members and is the Lead Commissioning Organisation. For this Contract all entities that are eligible to commission services through this contract will be referred to as ‘Commissioning Organisations.’

The SEMG is procuring a single-supplier framework where the successful provider will need to be mindful of the diversity of the participating SEMG members to ensure it fully understands local needs and systems and is able to work flexibly with individual participating members, including through the provision of relevant information.

The service will include a core service that supports mediation and disagreement resolution as described in section 5 and the mediation and disagreement resolution service as set out in section. It is a requirement of the contract that the Mediation and/or Disagreement Resolution is fully compliant with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 2015 and any other related provisions.

The provider will work with the commissioning organisations to ensure there is a flexible approach to meeting local needs across the SEMG membership.