Support for Corporate Parenting Implementation and Care Leaver Covenant Expansion

The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking an experienced external provider or consortium to support government departments and public bodies with implementing new Corporate Parenting duties and expanding the Care Leaver Covenant. Corporate Parenting, introduced under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, requires government departments and key public bodies to promote and improve outcomes for children in care and care leavers. The Care Leaver Covenant is a national initiative connecting young people aged 16-25 with employment, education, apprenticeships, mentoring, housing support and other opportunities from public, private and voluntary sector organisations. The successful provider will help relevant bodies understand and embed corporate parenting responsibilities, build organisational capability, develop delivery plans with input from people with lived experience, expand the Covenant's reach by recruiting and supporting signatories, strengthen connections between local authorities and Covenant partners, and raise awareness among care leavers. The contract runs for two financial years: April 2027 to March 2029, with Year 2 subject to business planning confirmation. Year 1 covers both Corporate Parenting and the Care Leaver Covenant; Year 2 focuses on the Covenant alone.