Intensive Coaching Service for Young People in Care

Essex County Council is seeking a specialist provider to deliver the Staying Close programme, an intensive coaching service for children in care and care leavers aged 16-25 with complex needs and placement instability. The provider will recruit, manage and supervise skilled coaches to deliver personalised, relationship-based support up to 25 hours per week for up to 18 months. Services will focus on reducing risk, improving emotional wellbeing, strengthening family relationships, and supporting engagement in education, employment and training. The coaching will be trauma-informed and strengths-based, helping young people achieve stability, safety and successful transitions to adulthood. The service operates across Essex with flexible delivery including evenings, weekends and out-of-hours support, working closely with families, carers, social workers and partner agencies. Key outcomes include reducing placement breakdowns, enabling young people to step down from higher-cost placements, supporting safe returns home where appropriate, and promoting sustainable independence as a cost-effective alternative to intensive care settings. The provider must maintain robust safeguarding, performance monitoring and outcome measurement processes.