Provision of a School Based Counselling Service to Children and Young People within Newport

Procurement reference

NCC202500175

Procurement description

The School Standards and Organisation Act (Wales) 2013 places a statutory requirement on Local Authorities to provide an independent school based counselling service for children and young people from year 6 of their primary education up to their 19th birthday. The counselling service will be available to children and young people between the ages of 10 and 19 years (school years 5 to 13).

The Service will predominantly be provided on a face to face basis and free of charge to the client at the point of delivery. The counselling offer would need to minimum of 25 days per week of direct counselling provision to children and young people, term time only and split as follows:

- Minimum of 2 days per week face to face session counselling (and online for EBSA students) in each of the 9 secondary schools (18 days per week total)

- Minimum of 4 days total per week face to face counselling to Year 6 pupils across the city, managing a referral system based on highest need.

- Minimum of 1 day per week counselling for the Pupil Referral Unit

- Minimum of 1 day per week counselling for the 2 special schools in Newport.

- Minimum of 1 day a week Community Counselling including online counselling for young people who are EHE and NEET.

- Additional desirable: Minimum of 1 day a week play therapy for younger children.

- Minimum of 3 days a week to provide face to face counselling to Year 5 pupils and under across the city.

The funding would also need to include a Clinical Lead to: - liaise with the Principal EP around the commissioning of the service, manage referrals, complete grant data and other data requests for Welsh Government, line management and supervision of counsellors, termly meetings with secondary school wellbeing leads to feedback data on school based counselling, provide support to schools alongside the EPS in the event of a serious critical incident.

Main category

Services

Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)

2891000 GBP to 2891000GBP

Contract dates (estimated)

01 September 2026, 00:00AM to 31 August 2031, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 31 August 2033

Newport City Council

Procedure type

Open procedure

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

Trade agreements

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

CPV classifications

• 85312320 - Counselling services

Lot value (estimated)

2891000 GBP Excluding VAT

3469200 GBP Including VAT

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 September 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 August 2031, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

31 August 2033, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Description of extensions

The extension is up to 2 years and will be extended on an annual basis subject to review.

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

Within the contract period, the service may be required to provide counselling from Reception to Year 13 (5 to 19 years) if this becomes statutory or to be in line with the revised Welsh Toolkit. A period of notice of at least 6 months will be given for any changes required. The Service will predominantly be provided on a face to face basis and free of charge to the client at the point of delivery.

Award criteria

Tender submission deadline

27 March 2026, 12:00PM

Enquiry deadline

20 March 2026, 12:00PM

Date of award of contract

01 May 2026, 23:59PM

Submission address and any special instructions

Tender document can be accessed and completed via ITT_123300, etenderwales, https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com

May tenders be submitted electronically?

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

• English
• Welsh