- Id
- engagement
- Type
- engagement
- Description
- Background
Short Breaks and Break Time provide essential support for children and young people with SEND by offering quality group based activities, building independence, social skills and confidence, and giving families a much needed break from caring.
Feedback from families, children, practitioners and providers has highlighted variable availability across the county, increasing levels of need, demand for more local and accessible provision, the importance of 1:1 and personal care capacity, and the need for consistent information across providers. Providers have also expressed interest in clearer commissioning expectations, improved communication, and shared development opportunities.
The Council is reviewing the current delivery approach, including the Break Time model, and wishes to test potential enhancements with the market ahead of formal tendering.
Objectives
The preliminary market engagement aims to:
1. Understand the Current and Potential Provider Market
• Assess provider capacity, capability, and areas of specialism.
• Identify geographical gaps, staffing challenges, and delivery constraints.
2. Gather Insight to Inform the Service Model
• Collect feedback on the strengths and limitations of the current Break Time and Short Breaks offer.
• Test emerging commissioning ideas, including approaches to inclusion, accessibility, flexible delivery, and support for children with higher or complex needs.
3. Support the Development of a Clear and Achievable Specification
• Ensure the future framework reflects realistic provider operating conditions.
• Explore innovation, partnership opportunities, and models that enhance local access and consistency.
4. Strengthen Provider Engagement and Transparency
• Provide clarity on anticipated timescales, expectations, and the future tender process.
• Build open communication channels and support new providers to enter the market.
5. Help Shape a Fair, Competitive, and Well Informed Procurement Process
• Ensure providers are well prepared for the upcoming tender.
• Use market insight to design a commissioning approach that is deliverable, sustainable, and responsive to family needs.
The Council is actively reaching out to both current and potential providers of Short Breaks and Break Time services to:
• Understand market capacity and capability
• Gauge interest levels
• Explore potential improvements to service delivery
• Test elements of the future commissioning approach
This is being done before the specification and tender documents are finalised.
These activities form the core of the preliminary engagement:
A. Online Webinar
An introductory session delivered via Microsoft Teams where the Council:
• Presents the current service model
• Shares emerging commissioning intentions
• Provides a Q&A opportunity for providers
B. In Person Provider Engagement Event
A deeper engagement session including:
• Overview of the existing offer
• Discussion of inclusion, accessibility, and staffing models
• Consideration of innovative and flexible delivery options
• Provider workshops to gather detailed feedback
C. Provider Feedback Questionnaire
A structured survey to collect further detail on:
• Activity types
• Staffing and capacity
• Geographical reach
• Ability to support children with complex needs
• Barriers to delivering Short Breaks
• Provider recommendations for improvement
Who Should Attend?
This engagement is open to:
• Current Short Breaks / Break Time providers
• Academies delivering or interested in delivering SEND activities
• Community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations
• Specialist SEND providers
• Organisations with experience in play, youth work, outdoor education, creative arts, sports, life skills, or therapeutic activities
• Providers able to offer 1:1, personal care, medical needs support, or sensory friendly environments
Both new and potential providers are welcome.
Invitation for Providers to Register Interest
The Council is inviting organisations to register for:
• The in person event
• The online webinar
• Updates and future communications
This ensures a broad provider base is informed and able to contribute.
HOW TO REGISTER
Providers who wish to register should do so using one or both links below:-
BREAK TIME
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Jj5on7nYCUaexOGjbku00rPz6VymFxxBhNNk5v2R_05UM0Q3U09WTkc2QThLNDA2RVVFOVlWRDY3My4u
CHILDRENS SHORT BREAKS - DOMICILLIARY/HOMECARE PROVIDER
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Jj5on7nYCUaexOGjbku00rPz6VymFxxBhNNk5v2R_05UNDNIT1ZUNlFGTjkwRDRQOTJGTDE3WlEyMS4u
Or please see the link below to the engagement notice on Lancashire County Councils website:-
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/lps-caph-market-engagement-provider-list-for-break-time-short-breaks-including-intensive-therapeutic-and-short-breaks-service-itsbs-for-send-children-and-young-people/
QUESTIONS
For questions relating to this notice or the engagement events, please contact:
cyp-shortbreaks@lancashire.gov.uk
- Due
- 30 Apr 2026, 23:59
- Status
- scheduled