UASC Isolation Accommodation PIN

Isolation Accommodation for newly arrived Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children with Communicable Infectious Diseases Kent County Council has a statutory responsibility for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking (UAS) Children under the Children Act 1989. In response to the High Court Ruling in July 2023, the Council is seeking a provider with immediate access to a registered Children’s Home to accommodate those children under 16 arriving in the UK and require isolation due to suspected or confirmed communicable infectious diseases. Service Requirements The services required to fulfil the requirement of Isolation Accommodation must adhere to the NHS National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for England (January 2023) and: • Be a C2 classed residential children’s home and be Ofsted registered. • Be available for UAS Children requiring isolation due to suspected or confirmed communicable infectious diseases. • Have single bed bedrooms, with ensuite sanitary facilities, shared kitchen and dining facilities and shared lounges. • Have accommodation for staff such as offices and communal areas for various assessments and administrative functions. • Be a minimum of three beds in size and be homely, meeting the Ofsted Social Care requirements for a Children’s Home. • Be fully furnished Physical Accommodation Preferred Requirements • A single building or grouped buildings on the same site. • A location in, or bordering, the County of Kent. • Set in a discrete location to have minimal impact on the local community. • Staffed as an operating Children’s Home with provision of three meals a day and snacks. • Decorated for children under the age of 16. • Low maintenance costs. The Council would only like to hear from organisations, which would be interested in tendering for this opportunity, to discuss ideas on how this could be most effectively and efficiently delivered and to provide greater insight into the market. The Council may arrange to meet with interested organisations, either individually or at an open market engagement event, depending on the levels of interest in this PIN. Any meetings that take place as a result of this PIN will be for the purpose of market engagement and information gathering and will not form part of the formal tendering process which will follow at a later date. If your organisation is interested in potentially delivering this service and has immediate access to suitable accommodation as detailed above, please ‘Register an Interest’ in this PIN. EOI Deadline: 11 February 2024