Perceptions of Practice Placements on Social Work Courses

Award Criteria

The contract will be awarded on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), using a 70% quality and 30% price evaluation model. Quality will be assessed through bidders' written responses to the Quality Evaluation Questionnaire and will account for 70% of the total tender score. Evaluation will consider: the bidder's understanding of Social Work England's regulatory role and the purpose of the research; the appropriateness, robustness and feasibility of the proposed research methodology in addressing the specified workstreams; the quality of project management, delivery plan and risk management; relevant experience, capability and expertise of the proposed team; the approach to data collection, processing, ethics, inclusivity and data protection; and; the quality, accessibility and suitability of proposed reporting and outputs. A minimum overall quality threshold of 50% applies. Any tender failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further consideration. Price will account for 30% of the total tender score and will be evaluated based on the total contract price inclusive of VAT, as submitted in the Pricing Schedule. The price score will be calculated using the following formula: (lowest total cost ÷ bidder's total cost) × 30. The final award decision will be based on the combined quality and price score, with the highest scoring tender recommended for award, subject to completion of due diligence and contract execution.

Description

Social Work England is commissioning independent research to strengthen its understanding of practice‑based learning across qualifying routes into social work in England. This work supports Social Work England's role as the regulator of social work education and training, and will inform future regulatory standards, guidance and quality assurance activity. The requirement is for the design and delivery of a mixed‑methods research study exploring perceptions and experiences of practice‑based learning, including statutory and non‑statutory placements. The research will examine issues of placement quality, placement sufficiency and variation across regions, qualifying routes and workforce contexts. The supplier will be expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, which may include education providers, employers, practice educators, placement providers and newly qualified social workers. Research activity is likely to include a combination of desk‑based review and primary research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups and/or case studies. Key outputs will include a midpoint findings presentation, a final written report suitable for publication, and a final presentation of findings. The supplier must ensure proportionate but robust research governance, inclusive methods, and compliance with ethical standards and UK GDPR. The contract is expected to commence on 19 June 2026 and conclude by 19 December 2026. The estimated value of the contract is £50,000. Full technical requirements are set out in the specification.

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