C0227 Direct Payments Support Service

Birmingham City Council invites providers to tender for a Direct Payment Support Service Framework Agreement for a period of three years with a potential extension for a further year from 1st July 2016. Since April 2003 Councils were required to offer Direct Payments to certain persons in order to enable them to obtain for themselves, the services that they were assessed as needing.

This Framework Agreement is to support a wider adoption of citizens taking up Direct Payments. Providers can apply for one or several lots as set out below for both children and adults • Set up package • Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) Checks • On-going Support • Third party supported accounts/ managed accounts • Additional PA recruitment • Payroll services The Framework Agreement is through a free choice by citizens, requiring this service, but the funding is direct from the Council.

The specification attached to this tender process also signals the intention of the Local Authority to work with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)(Birmingham Cross-City, Birmingham South and Central, Sandwell and West Birmingham and Solihull) in order to extend these arrangements to Personal Health Budget recipients. Birmingham’s three CCGs are in the process of delivering a Personal Health Budget programme and it is envisaged that as this programme continues to expand the Local Authority will work with the CCGs in order to ensure that the Direct Payments Support Services Framework Agreement is extended to support Personal Health Budget holders.