Armed Forces Link Workers

• Procurement Regulations 2024
• Procurement Act 2023

The service will operate across four locality areas, including regular outreach in three settings in each locality. • Mendip: Wells, Frome, Glastonbury • Sedgemoor: Highbridge, Bridgwater, Hinkley • South Somerset: Yeovil, Ilchester, Chard • Taunton area: Taunton, Wellington, Watchet The Armed Forces Link Worker (AFLW) service provides: • Outreach-based engagement and support • Hospital-based identification and intervention • Referral, signposting, and casework support • Partnership working across health, community, and military organisations Delivery Model 1 Community / Outreach Delivery The provider will: • Maintain three outreach centres in each locality area (see above) • Deliver outreach sessions at least once every 6 weeks per site • Ensure provision is accessible to those unable to attend central hubs • Provide a welcoming environment, including: o Free refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits) Additional requirements: • Pay for venue hire where applicable (noting some venues are free, e.g. Wells, Highbridge) • Actively promote sessions via: o Website and social media o LocalReach magazine o Printed materials (where required) • Record attendance and engagement at all sessions 2 Referral and Casework Support The provider will: • Accept referrals from: o Self-referral (individuals) o Organisations and professionals o Respond to all queries/referrals within two working days as standard. • Provide: o 1:1 casework support o Signposting and onward referrals o Support to access appropriate Armed Forces and wider services, for example Op Fortitude, Op Courage. • Maintain a single shared database of clients/contacts to: o Avoid duplication o Support continuity across acute and community settings 3 Acute (Hospital-Based) Delivery The provider will: • Employ one part-time AFLW in each acute hospital (approx. 25 hrs/week 0.7 WTE): o Musgrove Park Hospital o Yeovil District Hospital Hospital AFLWs will: • Review patient admissions daily to identify Armed Forces patients - subject to appropriate data protection training and adherence, • Aim to visit newly identified patients promptly and contact the patient within two working days. • Support: o Timely discharge o Access to Armed Forces-specific services o Management of complex cases • Promote recording of Armed Forces status across wards and departments • Liaise with relevant leads (e.g. VCHA) to ensure compliance with data requirements 4 Primary Care and Locality Integration Four whole-time equivalent (37.5 hrs) Locality-based AFLWs will: • Build and maintain relationships with GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) • Provide support and training where requested • Be an integral part of new neighbourhood working models and development. • Promote accurate coding of Armed Forces status using SNOMED • Work collaboratively with hospital-based AFLWs The total value of the 1 year contract from 01/11/2026 to 1/10/2027 is £204,082.