Childrens Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Leicester Framework
Framework Description
Leicester City Council plans a framework for children's Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placements. It has published a UK1 pipeline notice on Find a Tender (045047-2026), which signals the intended procurement ahead of a formal tender. Further notices will follow when the council goes to market, setting out the term, structure and how agencies can bid.
Context & Use Case
The council's children's services will use the framework to place looked-after children with independent fostering agencies, covering foster carer recruitment and assessment, matching children with carers and ongoing support for each placement. A framework gives the council a consistent, competed route for IFA placements instead of arranging and negotiating each one separately.
Scope of Services
Foster placement recruitment Foster carer assessment and support Matching children with foster carers Ongoing fostering support services
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
Ofsted-registered independent fostering agencies with experience of local authority placements. The procurement is at pipeline stage, so no tender is open yet; agencies will be able to bid once Leicester City Council publishes the tender notice, and should prepare now.
Buyer Benefits
A framework lets the council place children quickly with agencies already checked on quality, safeguarding and price, rather than negotiating every placement. It also gives commissioners comparable data on outcomes and placement stability across agencies, which helps them plan enough suitable placements for looked-after children in Leicester.
Next Steps
Register on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender) so your organisation details are ready, and follow notice 045047-2026 for the tender notice. Use the time before the tender to gather Ofsted inspection outcomes, placement stability and outcome data, evidence of placements with Leicester or neighbouring councils, and a clear pricing approach.
How Athena Can Help
A pipeline notice is the signal to start preparing, and fostering agencies that plan early write stronger bids. Athena's bid-for-the-bid planning sets out what Leicester is likely to assess and how to evidence outcomes and placement stability.
When the tender opens, our fostering bid writers draft the responses, build your pricing and run a Bid Health Check before submission. In the meantime, our framework registration support can find other local authority fostering frameworks you can join now.
