Parliamentary Monitoring Services for Cafcass

Overview

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) is seeking to appoint a single Supplier to provide a Parliamentary Monitoring Service. Cafcass operates within a complex and evolving parliamentary, legislative, policy and public-sector environment. Developments across Parliament, government and the wider family justice and children's services sectors can have implications for Cafcass, the children and families with whom it works, and the wider family justice system. Cafcass requires a timely, reliable and relevant monitoring service to support its awareness and understanding of developments across Parliament, government, legislation, policy and the wider stakeholder environment. The Service will support Cafcass in identifying relevant and emerging issues, tracking legislative and policy developments, informing internal briefings and maintaining awareness of matters which may affect Cafcass or its work. The scope of the Service will include: UK parliamentary monitoring, including relevant House of Commons and House of Lords business; monitoring of relevant government departments and public bodies; legislative monitoring and tracking; policy and stakeholder monitoring; horizon scanning; timely alerts and regular monitoring outputs; monitoring of relevant consultations, inquiries and calls for evidence; concise summaries and appropriate factual context; searchable online access to monitoring information; and appropriate account management and ongoing refinement of the Service. Cafcass's preferred method for receiving alerts and routine monitoring outputs is by email, supported by access to the Supplier's online monitoring platform. The requirement is primarily for a monitoring and information service. Cafcass is not seeking consultancy, strategic public affairs advice or detailed political or policy analysis as part of the core Service.