Essex and Suffolk Appoint Providers to Adoption and Kinship Support Services Framework

Essex County Council, working with Suffolk County Council, has established a new framework for the provision of Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services.

The framework has been created to support the councils’ statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance published in October 2024. It will provide adoptive and kinship families with access to training, therapeutic interventions and specialist assessments to help children and adults address the long-term effects of abuse and trauma.

The framework will run from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029, with an option to extend for up to 12 months, potentially taking the agreement through to 31 August 2030.

Three Specialist Lots Awarded

The framework is divided into three lots covering training, therapeutic intervention and specialist assessments.

Lot 1 – Training has an estimated value of £768,000 excluding VAT and has been awarded to:

• Families Empowered Limited
• Jump Start Centre Limited
• Kids Inspire

Lot 2 – Therapeutic Intervention has an estimated value of £3.696 million excluding VAT and has been awarded to:

• ACE Music Therapy CIC
• Apricot Centre CIC
• Barnardo’s
• Families Empowered Limited
• J4L Associates Limited
• Jump Start Centre Limited
• Kids Inspire
• Lindsay Wood Play Therapist & Child & Family Worker
• Mind Right Limited
• N-Gage Therapeutic Care Ltd
• Sensi Limited

Lot 3 – Specialist Assessments has an estimated value of £336,000 excluding VAT and has been awarded to:

• Apricot Centre CIC
• Jump Start Centre Limited
• Kids Inspire
• Mind Right Limited
• Sensi Limited

Competitive Procurement

The framework was awarded following an open procedure under the Light Touch Regime.

Across the three lots, the procurement attracted 33 tenders, with 19 providers appointed to the framework across the different service areas.

The award decision was made on 24 July 2026, with assessment summaries issued to tenderers on the same day. The earliest date the framework may be signed is 19 August 2026.

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