Children, Families and Justice Social Work Services - Third Sector Commissioning 2027 - 2030

Update - 4th November 2026

Following concerns raised by third sector organisations and constructive discussions within the Third Sector Reference Group, Fife Council proposes to merge Brief 1: Whole Family Support (Early Intervention) and Brief 3: Scaffolding Support into a single, more flexible commissioning opportunity. Both briefs have been developed in response to a common evidence base and strategic priorities, and share some overlap in their target population, intended outcomes and delivery approach. The principal aim of merging the briefs is to encourage flexibility, creativity and collaboration, enabling organisations to build on their particular strengths and expertise rather than feeling obliged to meet every requirement of a brief.

Organisations do not need to do everything. We want organisations to tell us what they can do well, where they can make the greatest difference, and how they can work alongside others. Organisations will not be expected to deliver every element of the combined brief or work with every age group but must be mindful that commissioners have a responsibility to ensure that the services funded collectively provide the full breadth of support required across Fife and provide a comprehensive, coordinated and responsive offer to children and families.

A focus on needs, outcomes and collaboration

Feedback from families highlights that support pathways can be difficult to navigate, with common concerns including:

• Not knowing where to go for help
• High thresholds for support
• Repeating their story to multiple services
• Complex referral processes

This commissioning process is therefore not simply an opportunity for organisations to reapply for their existing funding to continue delivering the same activities except where the organisation can evidence how this meets the needs and outcomes identified. Rather, we want organisations to draw on their knowledge of communities, experience of service delivery and evidence of what works to propose the approaches they believe will make the greatest positive difference. This may involve building upon successful existing services, adapting provision or developing new approaches. The emphasis should be on responding to current and emerging needs, achieving meaningful outcomes and making the best use of the collective strengths of Fife's third sector.

The commissioning approach remains guided by the following commissioning principles:

• Early intervention and prevention
• Family-centred and strengths-based practice
• Flexible and responsive support which includes evening and weekend availability
• Collaboration and partnership
• Outcomes-focused delivery

Partnership working and Collaboration

It is expected that organisations applying will demonstrate a strong commitment to partnership working and collaborative delivery. Providers will be expected to work effectively with statutory partners, communities and third-sector partners and, where appropriate, develop consortium or partnership arrangements that maximise collective expertise, local reach and service capacity. Partnership working will be important in ensuring that different services complement one another, providing clear pathways and continuity of support as families' circumstances change. Organisations are not expected to necessarily develop fully fledged partnership or consortium proposals but must demonstrate how your service(s) will work with others in order to reduce gaps, duplication and unnecessary transitions between services, making it easier for families to access the right support at the right time.

Budget

The current combined budget for Briefs 1 and 3 is approximately £1.6 million per annum. It is proposed that this increases by approximately £650,000, creating a total commissioning budget of £2.25 million per annum for these particular services.

While the combined brief will encompass a continuum of support, available evidence indicates lower levels of demand for the more intensive scaffolding support described in Brief 3, with limited need for additional provision of this type. The overall commissioning approach will reflect this evidence, ensuring that resources and services are proportionate to the needs identified.

Conclusion

This investment reflects our shared commitment to delivering holistic, relationship-based support that can adapt to changing family circumstances while maintaining a focus on positive outcomes.

This proposal reflects the commitment of Fife Council and Fife Voluntary Action to listen to the sector, respond positively to concerns and make meaningful changes to the commissioning process. We want to encourage ambitious, realistic and collaborative proposals that make the best use of the sector's expertise and resources, contributing to a coherent and sustainable range of services that deliver the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families across Fife.

We will provide a further update as soon as there is additional information to share. In the meantime, please continue to raise questions, concerns and suggestions through the established channels.

Update - 23rd October 2026

The new FAQ section is now available here.

Update - 13th October 2026

Following constructive discussions between FVA and Fife Council about concerns raised by voluntary sector organisations regarding the commissioning process for Children, Families and Justice Social Work services, the following changes and commitments have been agreed to by Fife Council:

1. Funding commitment: The total funding available for commissioning from April 2027 will be no less than £4.251 million.
2. Review of commissioning proposals: The proposed commissioning arrangements will be reviewed, including their scope, coverage and associated funding allocations. FVA will be directly involved in supporting this review.
3. Extended submission deadline: The deadline for submissions will be extended to 18th December.
4. Improved communication and clarification: A new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) process will be introduced, with FVA's involvement, to ensure that queries are addressed promptly and consistently, providing organisations with the clarity and information they need when preparing submissions.

A further meeting has been arranged to discuss outstanding matters in more detail, and there remains scope for additional improvements. We will continue to update members of the Voluntary Sector Children’s Services Forum. To be added to the mailing list, please contact [email protected]

News Item: 28th September

Children, Families and Justice Social Work Services - Third Sector Commissioning 2027 - 2030

Fife Council's Children, Families and Justice Social Work Services are inviting third sector organisations supporting children, young people and families to apply for funding as part of the new commissioning period 2027 - 2030.

An overview and details of the commissioning approach can be accessed here: Overview of Approach in 2027 - 2030

Key Priorities & Briefs for Commissioning 2027 - 2030

• Whole Family Support - Focused on providing accessible early intervention support, enabling carers to feel supported and confident in their parenting approach, supporting family resilience, reducing social isolation and enabling families to achieve their full potential.

• Children Affected by Disability - Focused on two different aspects of support. Lot 1 to provide early intervention support to deliver inclusive social opportunities and enable children to actively participate in their communities. Lot 2 is focused on outreach and short breaks for children who are affected by a significant and complex disability, to support family resilience and improve emotional wellbeing.

•  Scaffolding Support - Focused on providing timely targeted or intensive support at the earliest opportunity, to reduce the escalation of risk and crisis, improve family stability and help families to be meaningfully engaged in their local communities.

•  Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law - Focussed on providing early intervention and targeted support to children and young people aged 12-17 who are in conflict with the law, to help them understand the factors which led to this, reducing the risk of further offending and promoting wellbeing.

•  Children and Families Impacted by Domestic Abuse - Focused on two different aspects of support. Lot 1 to provide timely intervention to enable children and families to process and recover from their experience of domestic abuse, supporting family relationships, resilience and improving emotional wellbeing. Lot 2 is focused on providing advocacy support for children and adults referred to MARAC.

How to apply

To request an application pack, please contact [email protected] with the subject line Children and Families Grant Funding.

The return deadline for applications is Friday 18th December

Should you wish to discuss the briefs and your application further, please do not hesitate to contact Andrea Robertson: [email protected] and Laura Lowrie: [email protected].

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