Carers Support Service

The Council wishes to commission a comprehensive Carers Support Service offering: •Prevention Provision, including Information and Advice, Carer Learning and Peer Support, for Adult Carers over the age of 18 and Young Carers who are transitioning from Young Carers Support Services as they approach the age of 18 (or when this is deemed to be of significant benefit to the Young Carer, which may be earlier). •Face to face Assessment, Support Planning and Review Provision for Adult Carers over the age of 18. •Strategic Engagement, Planning and Influencing Provision, representing the views and analysing the Needs and Outcomes of Adult Carers over the age of 18 and Young Carers under the age of 18, and proactively influencing and supporting a wide range of agencies to recognise and meet the Needs of Adult and Young Carers. This work shall promote a preventative approach, empowering other agencies to proactively identify and support Carers early in their Caring Journey, through their strategies, commissioning decisions and operational practices.

The scale and targeting of this work shall reflect gaps and address issues identified through Engagement with Carers, analysis of needs and outcome trends from assessments and support plans. Provide information, analysis and recommendations to assist the Council with strategic planning, service review and the development of associated delivery plans.

Interested organisations will be able to access the Invitation To Tender (ITT) documentation by following the instructions contained in this contract notice. This documentation will set out the details of the procurement process to be undertaken, the timescales to be followed, the specification and contract conditions for the services, and the way in which the new contract will be structured.

The contract which results from this procurement will be awarded at the end of February 2016 with a three month transition period to coincide with the end of the existing arrangements at the end of May 2016. The new provider will be expected to be able to deliver services and meet demand with effect from 1st June 2016.

The contract will run for an initial duration of 36 months, with an option to extend for a further period or periods of up a maximum of 24 months. The contract value for this opportunity is approximately £1m per annum.

The procurement will be carried out in line with Section 7 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and this contract notice serves as the required call for competition in line with regulation 75. A bidders event will be held in Lincoln on 19th November 2015.