National Care Academy for Wales: Operating Model Design and Implementation Planning (Workstream 2)

Social Care Wales is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced supplier to support the next phase of development of the National Care Academy for Wales. Building on the findings from the National Care Academy for Wales Workforce Learning and Development Mapping and Discovery Exercise (Workstream 1), the successful supplier will develop, test and recommend a preferred National Care Academy Model for Wales (Workstream 2 – this commission).

This commission will focus on the co-design and validation of a future National Care Academy that supports workforce learning, development and career progression across both the social work and social care sectors. The supplier will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop a clear National Care Academy offer, a Target Operating Model, Service Blueprint, governance arrangements, benefits realisation framework and phased implementation roadmap.

The successful supplier will be expected to: Review and build upon evidence and recommendations emerging from Workstream 1. Undertake stakeholder engagement, co-design and validation activities with key sector stakeholders across Wales.

Develop and test a preferred National Care Academy operating and delivery model. Define the future National Care Academy offer and the relationship between national coordination, regional collaboration and local delivery.

Develop governance, accountability and partnership arrangements to support future implementation. Produce a Target Operating Model and Service Blueprint for the preferred approach.

Assess digital, workforce and organisational requirements required to support implementation. Identify implementation costs, resource implications, key risks, dependencies and critical success factors.

Develop a phased implementation roadmap, including recommendations for an initial Minimum Viable Model (MVM). Hold a valid Cyber Essentials certification for the duration of the contract.

This commission is focused on service design, validation and implementation planning. It does not include implementation of the National Care Academy, procurement of digital platforms, delivery of learning programmes, or establishment of operational services. The procurement is expected to be of particular interest to organisations with expertise in service design, organisational development, workforce transformation, governance design, stakeholder engagement and implementation planning within the public, social care and health sectors.