Community Services for Older People, Prevention and Early Intervention

The Council believes in providing supports and services that allow its citizens to live well. This service sits within the Older Peoples Commissioning Plan and strategy. With the growth in people age 65+ living in West Lothian projected to be higher than the Scottish average, early intervention and prevention in relation to social isolation is key in optimising mental and physical health and promoting independence for a long as possible. The service will provide person centered, outcome focused activities and support for individuals. The provider is expected to have a large established volunteer’s network of in excess of 65 volunteers to support service users to achieve positive changes having identified and agreed individual goals by developing trusted relationships, establishing or re-establishing social networks and connections within their local communities. Service users will be encouraged to build their individual social capacity and will be actively encouraged to volunteer where appropriate to do so. This will support the delivery of services, increase capacity within the voluntary sector in West Lothian and furnish volunteers with the many benefits of volunteering. GROUPS/ACTIVITIES: Provide and support a variety of relevant established and new groups and activities across West Lothian. Support the service user to identify a group or activity they would like to attend and provide accompaniment to attend whilst the individual builds confidence to attend independently. SHORT TERM SUPPORT: Provide a short-term period of one to one support where a service user requires assistance to rebuild their confidence e.g., after hospitalisation, after a fall, or following a recent bereavement. LONGER TERM SUPPORT: Provide a longer-term period of one to one support in certain circumstances, e.g. when an individual is housebound and socially isolated. TELEPHONE/DIGITAL SUPPORT: Provide the service user with opportunity to socially engage and develop a trusting relationship through conversation for those unable to attend face to face or group activities. Provide telephone/digital support as a welfare check in times of contingency, such as sudden inclement weather conditions or periods of illness. SIGNPOSTING: Support service users to access other appropriate services and resources In accordance with Section 67 (5) of the Public Contacts (Scotland) Regulations (5) i.e. the cost element may also take the form of a fixed price or cost on the basis of which economic operators will compete on quality criteria only whereby price is fixed. Utilising the flexibility of the Light Touch Regime with regard to the award criteria, those providers who are prepared to accept the Council’s fixed budget will score 30% Those providers who are not prepared to accept the Council’s fixed budget will score 0%. The Quality weighting will be 70% and bidders must score a minimum of 60% of the marks allocated to the Quality Score. With a tight timescale for continued service provision, the Council will also utilise the provisions of the Light Touch Regime to reduce the timescales where bidders have to respond. However, the Single Procurement Document has been modified and simplified to make bidding easier to ensure that there is sufficient time for bidders to respond. Additional information: There is a requirement to deliver a Community Benefit and this will be evaluated within the Fair Work First section.