The NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) is seeking to procure an organisation to finalise and deliver the Permanency Support Program Sector Workforce Development and Training strategy.

The Permanency Support Program (PSP) delivers services to vulnerable children and young people so they can grow up in stable, secure and loving homes. It is one of the most significant changes made to the NSW child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) systems in decades.

The program brings together government and non-government partners as part of a new vision in child protection and out-of-home care. The PSP supports safety, wellbeing and positive life outcomes for children and young people in the child protection and OOHC systems in NSW.

The PSP provides tailored services for children, young people and their families so they can be supported as close to home as possible.

The PSP aims to achieve:
* Fewer entries into care by keeping families together
* Shorter time in care by returning children home or finding other permanent homes for children whilst maintaining family connections
* A better care experience by supporting children’s individual needs and their recovery from trauma.

The reform requires many practitioners to work in new areas of permanency (preservation, restoration, guardianship and adoption). FACS has committed to providing further workforce development and training to support child and family practitioners of PSP service providers achieve permanency and better outcomes for children, young people and families. FACS’ approach is to finalise the PSP Sector Workforce Development and Training strategy in partnership with the sector and implement it state-wide through a centralised, coordinated approach that also incorporates and promotes existing resources and initiatives. Essentially establishing a central place, where the sector can access information, support, resources and training and build a PSP community.

The procurement approach will be a single stage open tender. FACS anticipates that the tender will open on NSW e-Tender on 14 January 2019 and close 8th February 2019. An industry briefing is anticipated to be held in Sydney within a week of the opening of the tender.

PSP service providers are ineligible to apply.