Service Design for Embedding Positive Cultures in Residential Care across Wales

The contract will be divided into the following two Lots. Social Care Wales intends to appoint one provider per Lot:Lot 1 – Co-design and Test Leadership Support Programme & tools for Adult Social Care ProvidersLot 2 – Programme evaluation and impact assessment of the co-design and testing of a new leadership programme and tool for nurturing positive cultures in adult social care services across WalesSuppliers may submit bids for one or both Lots.

However, a Supplier may not be awarded both Lots due to an unavoidable conflict of interest (i.e. evaluating their own work). In the event that a Supplier is ranked highest in both Lots, the Supplier will be awarded Lot 1 only.

The award for Lot 2 will then be offered to the next highest-ranking compliant bidder Project Phases The Supporting Positive Cultures Programme will be delivered across three distinct phases. Phase 1 has already been commissioned and is underway.

Phases 2 and 3 will be delivered through the two Lots commissioned as part of this tender. (a) Phase 1: User Research (completed separately) Phase 1 is currently underway and is due to complete in June 2026.

This phase focuses on developing a robust understanding of the needs of leaders in adult care provider organisations, particularly in relation to embedding, assessing and sustaining positive organisational cultures and their underpinning principles. The outputs from Phase 1 will include a set of evidence-based proposals setting out what an effective future support service for nurturing positive cultures could look like.

Phase 1 is not included within the scope of this tender. Its findings will be shared with the successful supplier/s upon contract award and will directly inform the work commissioned through Lots 1 and 2.

(b) Phases 2 and 3: Design, Testing and Evaluation (commissioned through this tender) (LOT 1)The Phases will be delivered through the two Lots described below. This includes: • Co-designing and testing a leadership support offer for adult social care providers, and • Co-designing and testing a positive cultures tools to support providers embed, assess, measure, and improve organisational positive culture in a meaningful and proportionate way.

The focus of Lot 1 is on practical development and testing with providers. Ensure ethical research practices are upheld including informed consent, safeguarding, and data protection. - Develop site specific action plans to support six care settings to test ways new support service that nurtures positive cultures, gather feedback, and iterate solutions for support.

This will involve working with the Responsible Individual, Registered Manager and up to 3 front-line staff at each pilot site.- Gathering data to support the evaluation on the ‘positive culture’ position of each test site at the start, re-measure at the mid-way and end point. - Undertake site visits or virtual consultations to observe Responsible Individual and Registered Manager in their own care settings to understand how they support positive cultures and behaviours. Also gain insights into the challenges they face, how they are overcome and what difficulties remain.- Develop practical resources, guidance and learning materials.- Produce a service design report explaining what was designed, how it was tested and what was learned from the design and testing process.

The report should also feature information about the experience of the 6 testing sites and their results. The report should also include recommendations for Social Care Wales to consider as next steps towards a scaled implementation of the work.(b) Phase 3 Codesign and test tools for anticipated activity:- Engage stakeholders in co-design workshops to define success criteria and design principles for the tool. - Develop a tool that measures indicators against the positive culture principles and aligns with strengths-based and compassionate leadership models. - Test the tool with 6 providers across Wales.- Validate usability and clarity through iterative feedback from the six pilot sites and test with care providers - Produce a service design report explaining what tool(s) was designed, how it was tested and what was learnt from the design and testing process.

The report should also feature information about the experience of the 6 testing sites and their results. The report should also include recommendations for Social Care Wales to consider as next steps towards a scaled implementation of the work.(c) Phase 2 & 3: Support service and toolCollaborate with a separate commissioned supplier to gather evidence that will feed into an Evaluation report for Phase 2 and 3 which will contribute towards the Rayne Foundation Better Carers Better Careers programme evaluation.

This includes the development and delivery of an evaluation and impact framework to assess the design and testing activity undertaken through Lot 1. Lot 2 will not be involved in the delivery of design of the support being evaluated.

What is required / ‘The Requirements’ - LOT 2(a) Evaluation Requirements (Phases 2 & 3)This phase will develop an evaluation and impact framework which forms part of a wider programme to support positive cultures in adult care servicesLot 2 is for undertaking an independent, mixed methods evaluation of the User research and codesign and testing of:- a leadership support service to nurturing positive cultures; and - a tool for implementing, measuring and evaluating positive cultures.The evaluation will synthesise data from Phase 2 & 3 to assess outcomes, identify lessons learned, and inform future policy and practice. See Specification for further infromation