The Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service is inviting tender applications to implement and support the organisation in the implementation of a new supervision model, including training staff, review of supervision policies and procedures and building capacity for ongoing implementation.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 21st of March 2025.
Return tenders to geraldine.ohara@docharity.ie

Background Information 

The Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service is inviting tenders from interested and experienced parties to train and implement a comprehensive evidence-based group supervision model with a focus on staff support and reflective practice. This proposal will include outlining a clear, evidence-based supervision model for staff working therapeutically with children and families which will encompass staff training to deliver the model across the service and an implementation plan so the model can be embedded across the various sites in the DOCCFS.

The DOCCFS has been providing services for children and families in Leinster for over 40 years and has recently launched its new strategic plan ‘Empowering Futures, Bringing hope to children and families’. The vision of the DOCCFS is to identify, reach, and empower children and families most in need in a society that is constantly changing, and the mission of the service is to recognise the essential dignity and potential of every person and the right of every child to live as full a life as possible within his or her own family.

The Daughters of Charity Child and Family Services operates a range of evidence informed services on the continuum of need, from universal services to those supporting families where there is active harm and high risk. Services provided are six early childhood development centres, seven therapeutic family centres, two assessment centres and a domestic violence project all situated in the Greater Leinster area. This Service works with families experiencing a range of challenges from domestic violence and abuse, mental health difficulties, bullying, suicide ideation, parenting support, trauma issues, and school refusal (this is not an exhaustive list).

Statistical evidence from our data and from feedback from staff and service users indicate that since the Covid pandemic, the service has experienced an increase in the number of referrals for children and families struggling with their mental health and anxiety, as well as seeing increases in referrals for families experiencing domestic violence, parenting challenges and supports for children with additional needs. There is an increase in the complexity of cases, due to the presence of a range of needs. The strategic plan of the organisation ‘Empowering Futures’ sets out a clear vision that children and families that need support will have access to supports as long as required. DOCCFS also works with families ‘wherever they are at’ providing intervention on a continuum of need. A supervision model that considers the systemic context of the work as well as the case management is required.
The DOCCFS will require a two year on-going support for supervisors so this systemic model of supervision can be fully implemented across the service.

Context 

The DOCCFS has trained all Staff and Managers in the Tony Morrison Model of supervision in social care, and this has been the model implemented across the service for almost twenty years.
While this model is useful in having clear supervision agreements, giving a clear definition of supervision and setting clear boundaries as well as providing guidance on case management with the use of the Kolb cycle, the focus is very much on the management of a case and managing the risk in case work. A review of cases on the case management system and feedback from staff indicates that cases have become more complex and high risk with a history of trauma presenting for families.

To support staff, asystemic trauma informed supervision model that can focus on staff support and reflection is required. 

Our Impact 

• In 2023, 1140 children attending our therapeutic family centres
• 30,226 sessions were completed in the family centres
• 369 children attending our early childhood development centres
• 553 children received a service from our assessment centres
• 94 children attending our centres had a diagnosed special need
• 49% of cases worked with in Dublin Safer Families involved coercive control
• 79 children received a service from Dublin Safer Families (Domestic violence service)

Key requirements 

Tender applications must meet the following criteria which must be included in tender submissions:
Evidence of relevant completed implementation of an evidenced group supervision model in a therapeutic similar setting

1. Published research in supervision.
2. Relevant third level and professional qualifications.
3. Knowledge of Supervision models and their application in a similar setting.
4. Evidence of clear knowledge and experience of qualitative and quantitative approaches and methodologies
5. A track record of carrying out supervision and training in supervision in the child protection, social care/social justice area.
6. A comprehensive proposal and plan for carrying out the project in a timely manner, addressing all the objectives as set out in this supervision training project.
7. Ability to train staff to implement a supervision model providing a professional, safe, boundaried, reflective and non-judgemental space to staff to explore their work and the impact of casework on their self-care, practice and case plans.
8. The model should provide a space to regularly review an individual’s professional practice, and to experience ongoing support for their work.
9. The model should deliver on the four functions of supervision – the normative, restorative, supportive and developmental functions of supervision so that workers are supported in all aspects of their work with children and families.
10. An overview of the time required, resources and cost of the research inclusive of VAT.
11. Two references for similar projects carried out.

Specification scoring and award criteria. 

Category - Marks

• Candidates’ qualifications and experience - 25
• Evidenced informed supervision model - 25
• Time frames for the project - 15
• Experience in implementation of supervision models in similar setting - 15
• Cost - 10
• Added value - 10

Total - 100

*The award of the project will be based on the responses to these specifications which will demonstrate the applicant’s ability to address the objectives as set out in this document.

Payment 

Payment shall be based on approved deliverables and outputs and on production of invoices.

Tax Clearance

The successful tenderer must provide evidence to DOCCFS of a valid Tax Clearance prior to appointment and for the duration of their services.

Insurance

The successful tenderer must provide evidence as part of their tender submission that they hold professional insurance.

Confidentiality 

All information supplied in connection with this Tender shall be regarded as confidential and by submitting an offer, the Tenderer agrees to be bound by the obligation to preserve the confidentiality of all such information.
During the delivery the successful tenderer may become party to confidential and sensitive information regarding the organisation, its staff and service users. The tenderer is required to ensure that all such documentation is held in a safe and secure manner and treated with strictest confidence following internal and EUGDPR guidelines.

Project details 

Duration: 6 months from May to November 2025.
Location: Dublin, Ireland.
Estimated value of the contract: €20,000 –€25,000 euro inclusive of VAT
This project will require the trainers to engage with DOCCFS staff /managers and the and DOCCFS Senior Management team

Deadline for Submission: The deadline for submission of the research tender is 5pm 21st March 2025 by e mail to geraldine.ohara@docharity.ie

References will be sought, and an interview will be conducted for shortlisted applicants.

For further information please contact Geraldine O’Hara, Head of Operations, telephone: 01842 5100 or email geraldine.ohara@docharity.ie