Request for proposals: Theory of Change consultation and development.

Introduction to Tosú

Tosú works with clients in the community and in prison to support them as they strive to build stable futures. In 2025 we marked twenty-five years of operations and in Spring 2025, we launched a new identity, Tosú. We are funded by the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, and we have several main strands of work, alongside advocacy:

• The Linkage Service provides services to clients who are on probation. Our Training and Em-ployment Officers provide guidance counselling, assessment and placement services (train-ing, education and employment). Responses are tailored to meet the needs of each individ-ual referral.
• The Gate Service provides individualised life-course plans, supports and placements that support the goals of the person in custody. The overall objective of the Gate Service is to help clients plan a life course after prison that includes training, education and employment. The Gate Service supports clients to identify resources that will support their life goals.
• The Resettlement Service works with people leaving prison, offering support through pre-release planning which includes advocating for supports such as housing, welfare and medi-cal cards.
• The Community Support Scheme works with clients to develop personalised support plans as they plan their futures after prison. The Community Support Scheme aims to foster change in partnership with the client, and our Community Support Scheme coordinators work with clients after release, monitoring progress and advocating on behalf of the client.
• The Supported Employment Service works with people in the Central Mental Forensic Health Hospital to identify obstacles and resource personal strengths to obtain meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities as a pathway to change.

Objective of the consultancy: 

To help our organisation develop a renewed understanding of how our varied client groups achieve long-term positive change. This consultation will result in an updated Theory of Change model which will guide our future programmes as well as our advocacy. It will include a mapping of the external context, along with analysis of Tosú and other programmes, identification of gaps in programmes and advocacy, and models for achieving lasting change.

Approach:

We expect the consultant to use surveys, phone interviews, focus groups and one-on-one interviews with clients, people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, our staff and al-lied organisations during the course of the consultancy. The consultant will be supported by our teams.

Please see full Tender Document attached below.

How to apply:

Email with CV, track record, referees and a short application letter outlining the steps that you would take to undertake this consultancy to procuremen@tosu.ie by 5 pm on 22/08/25.

Queries - to be submitted to Louise Williams, Tosú Communications Manager at lwilliams@tosu.ie