Systemic Practice Training Programme for Children's Services

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a qualified provider to design and deliver a comprehensive Systemic Practice Training Programme for its Children's Services department. The programme will enable the Council to adopt and sustain systemic practice across Early Help and Children's Social Care, aligning with existing trauma-informed and restorative approaches while supporting the Families First Reforms. The successful provider will conduct a diagnostic assessment of workforce needs, develop a detailed implementation plan, and deliver training to front-facing practitioners (social workers, family support staff) and a separate leadership programme for senior managers. The provider must support organisational embedding through cultural change, reflective practice, and supervision mechanisms, and establish evaluation and sustainability measures. All training must be accredited by or aligned to the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT) standards. The programme aims to strengthen relational and whole-family working, improve practice quality, and enhance outcomes for children, young people, and families in line with Ofsted expectations. The contract is funded through the Families First Reforms Grant with an initial 12-month term and potential two-year extension (1+1). The estimated contract value is up to £450,000 (excluding VAT) over the full potential term, with a 3-week tender window.