Parent Carer Needs Assessment and Support

Norfolk County Council's contract for the provision of Parent Carer Needs Assessment and Support service is due to end on the 31st of March 2025.

The Council is currently scoping its requirements for a new contract to commence on the 1st of April 2025.

Under the Children and Families Act (2014) parent carers have a right to a statutory assessment of their need for support if it is felt that they have needs for support, or if the parent carer requests an assessment.

Additionally, under the Care Act 2014, there is a duty on local authorities to assess adult carers before the child they care for turns 18 (called a transitions assessment), if it appears the carer is likely to have needs for support once the child turns 18, and it would be of significant benefit for the carer to have a transitions assessment.

The provider will be expected to provide high quality parent carer needs assessments and support to identified parent carers of children and young people who are aged up to 18 and who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), long term illness, mental health difficulties, substance misuse or other additional needs.

This will include the provision of experienced, skilled, and qualified staff, who will develop key community partnerships and networks, helping parent carers navigate the right services, and will include the delivery of both 1-2-1 support and group work.

The aim of the service will be to enable parent carers to improve their confidence in their ability to support and meet the needs of their child, helping to reduce crisis and need for other services, and improve relationships between parent carers and their family members including the cared for.

The service will deliver this by improving the wellbeing of parent carers by reducing loneliness, isolation by providing opportunities to connect and meet other parents in a similar situation and improving their understanding of what support is available and enabling them to access this in a timelier way.

The market engagement event is due to be held on Wednesday 25th September 10 am - 12 pm (this date may be subject to change).