The Sutton SEND Forum is seeking to work with a development partner that can provide capacity and expertise to grow the forum so that the voice of parents of children with SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) - are effectively represented when working with local area partners - education, health and social care organisations in Sutton.

The number of parent/carer volunteers on the current Sutton SEND Forum has reduced significantly over the last 12 months and the current group no longer has the capacity to fulfil its role effectively.

We are seeking expressions of interest from a development partner that will:

• Facilitate an initial phase of rebuilding and recruiting parents to join the Sutton SEND Forum establishing interim governance arrangements and setting up basic operational systems
• Organise and run open meetings and events to help parent carers understand co-production and identify those willing to join the steering group.
• Develop a steering group of parent carers and facilitating training on roles, responsibilities, group dynamics, and decision-making.
• Ensuring information about the Forum is disseminated widely to key organisations and venues accessed by families as well as establishing effective communication channels with all families of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years
• Support the Forum steering group to set up an action plan and budget annually and incorporate this into the DfE grant application.
• Manage all aspects of administration and operations on behalf of the Forum including finances, communications, marketing
• Provide necessary office infrastructure, such as venues for meetings, printing, postage, stationery, as is necessary for the running of the forum.

If you are an organisation that might be interested please review the full specification and please do get in touch with Community Action Sutton if you want to learn more! We particularly welcome expressions of interest from organisations with strong local links to Sutton communities. The expected budget for this commission will be around £50k (annual cost).

Next steps 

• 10th March - call for Expressions of Interest published by Community Action Sutton
• 24th March - deadline for Expressions of Interest to be submitted to Community Action Sutton enquiries@communityactionsutton.org.uk
• 26th March - invite to tender to all interested parties
• 10th April - deadline for tender submissions
• w/c 13th April - 1 May - evaluation, interviews and panel
• w/c 4th May - contract award and mobilisation

As information will be shared to interested organisations via the Council’s eTender system, ProContract, If you haven't yet registered, you can do so by using this link and selecting the Supplier’s area to complete your registration. London Tenders Portal (Pro Contract)