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)

Title

 

Market Engagement

Provider List for Break Time & Short Breaks (including intensive therapeutic and short breaks service (ITSBS) for SEND children and young people)

Reference

 

NM/CYP/CAPH/LCC/26/1514

Description and objectives

 

Lancashire County Council is preparing to recommission its Break Time & Short Breaks services for children and young people aged 0–18 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with a new framework planned to commence on 5 April 2027.

As part of this process, the Council is undertaking market engagement to:

  • Understand provider capacity, capability, and interest
  • Gather feedback on the current service model
  • Explore opportunities to strengthen inclusion, accessibility, and flexibility
  • Inform the final commissioning approach and tender design

This notice invites existing and potential providers of Short Breaks and Break Time  (group based SEND activities) to participate.

 

 

Estimated contract dates/timescales

Invitation to Tender anticipated to be published in June 2026

New Framework planned for 5 April 2027

Main procurement category

 

Services

CPV classifications

 

85000000, 85300000 and 85312120

Contract locations

 

UK – D4 Lancashire

Deadline for responses to preliminary market engagement

 

Thursday 30th April 2026 at 5 pm

Preliminary Market 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.

Current Specification

Please see the following link for the current specification.  Please note the specification will be reviewed as part of the process planning.

Reopening of the Provider list for Break Time, Home Care and Short Breaks Services for children and…

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.

 

 

 

Contact Organisation and contact details

 

For questions relating to this notice or the engagement events, please contact:
Lancashire Short Breaks Commissioning Team
📧 cyp-shortbreaks@lancashire.gov.uk

 

Additional information

Participation in market engagement does not form part of the formal procurement process and does not affect future tender eligibility.

 

The Council reserves the right to amend what is set out in the market engagement. Any process that may be conducted will only be in accordance with the procurement documents that are published

 

 [i.e. additional links (FATS Pipeline Notice) or supporting documents]

Market Engagement Event

How to Register

Providers who wish to attend should register using one or both of the links below:-

 

For Break Time Engagement Event use the link below

Break Time Engagement Event – Fill in form

 

For Childrens Short Break Engagement Event use the link below

 

Children's Short Breaks Engagement Event - Domiciliary /Homecare Provider Information – Fill in form

 

 

Alternatively, email:
cyp-shortbreaks@lancashire.gov.uk
with the subject line: “Short Breaks Market Engagement – Provider Registration”

Please include:

  • Organisation name
  • Contact person
  • Email address
  • Whether you will attend the in person event, online session, or both
  • Any accessibility requirements