CO0371 - Social Care Platform Programme (SCPP)

Essex County Council is submitting to tender the requirements for the provision of a fully integrated Social Care Case management Solution, to include Adults, Children and Families Social Care as well as an integrated financial solution. We are seeking an innovative, solution focussed Supplier, willing and capable of delivering a practice-led solution to meet the challenges of the changing UK social care landscape, the demands of citizen and provider self serve and the technology industry integration agenda to support the delivery of social care throughout Essex.

The Authority propose to establish a contract for an initial term of seven years and thereafter this will be terminated on notice. The Authority are procuring a single supplier of a fully integrated case management system covering adults, children and families social care and associated financial solutions.

This system will be the foundation of our social care platform solution and will be central to the management of a social care offering. A phased implementation approach is required with two go-live dates.

The period between the go-live dates must not be more than 12 weeks, with the second go-live date being no more than 18 months following contract commencement. The solution must be capable of meeting all current and emerging legislation, and guidance including monitoring, managing and delivering the new duties and responsibilities arising from the Health and Care Act 2022, including care charging reforms, CQC inspection regimes and partnership working with the NHS and other partners.

In addition to fully supporting a people and young people-centric approach, the solution must aid Authority social work practitioners in critical day-to-day responsibilities like safeguarding and reablement and at a people and young people level must enable self-management, individual budgets and direct payments. Ambition for this solution is high.

It must be resilient, stable and reliable. The Authority is seeking a supplier to work in collaboration to ensure value for money, best practice and continuous improvement is achieved throughout the contract duration.

The Supplier will be required to proactively undertake horizon scanning and bring innovation or market changes to Authority attention. Data will be required to be migrated from multiple live and legacy systems.

The Supplier must be willing and able to open the proposed solution to all/any integration required by the Authority. It will have the capability for improved information sharing between Social Care, Health and other Partners. The solution must have effective business processes in terms of efficiency and automation and will have the ability to provide effective business and financial reporting to support operational services.