Contract for Families First Programme

“In essence, Families First is an innovation programme that promotes the development by local authority areas of effective multi-agency systems and support, with a clear emphasis on prevention and early intervention for families, particularly those living in poverty”

Families First Programme Guidance, 2011

Families First, launched in July 2011, is a Welsh Government’s flagship programme that addresses the spectrum of needs of families at greater risk of experiencing disadvantage and poor outcomes for children. Families First is a key element of the Welsh Government’s Child Poverty Strategy for Wales (2011) and aims to transform service planning and promote effective, multi-agency and integrated support that builds resilience and independence of families that are vulnerable to disadvantage. It is part of a continuum of provision for children, young people and families that includes: Flying Start, for children aged 3 years and under in the most disadvantaged local areas; Communities First, targeting the prospects of the most disadvantaged communities; and, Integrated Family Support Teams, which provide a holistic approach to families with high level needs.

The Families First programme emphasises that services must address the whole family’s needs through a holistic programme of intervention which locate the family at the centre of decision-making; are integrated, well coordinated and tailored to the needs of individual families. Moreover, the focus is in prevention and early intervention that support families effectively at the earliest time and so limit the need for more specialist interventions with families where problems have escalated.

In addition, Families First advocates a strategic approach to commissioning which leverages and networks existing resources and partnership models of working; and whereby investment is focused on key needs and priorities for families. As part of its Families First Action Plan 2012/13- 2017/18, the Isle of Anglesey County Council is commissioning services for identified priority areas from statutory sector and voluntary sector agencies

Please contact LLio Johnson, Project Manager on 01248 752033 or lljed@anglesey.gov.uk to ask for tender packs.

Bids can be made by any type of organisation. Collaborations between agencies are also welcome but a lead agency must be identified within the proposal and how the collaboration works made clear (e.g. which agency is responsible for what functions and how sub-contractor and/or other agencies will have their performance managed). It will be necessary for each agency that forms part of a collaboration to complete sections 1-8 of the application form, although section 9 -12 of the application form need only be completed once for the collaboration by the lead agency.

Agencies can bid for more than one of the projects listed below. Such bids (either of the above, or other, combinations) are actively encouraged especially if further impact and/or financial efficiencies can be achieved as a result of combining projects. Should an agency decide to bid for more than one project then Section 1 – 8 only needs to completed once WITH SECTIONS 9-12 COMPLETED FOR EACH SPERATE CONTRACT.

Please note that suppliers will be scored based on the specification and the questions in the tender documents.