Community Services to meet requirement of Advocacy, DoLs and LPS

This update to the Prior Information Notice published in 2021 is to notify the market of the Council’s intention to commission a range of statutory and non-statutory Advocacy services including: • Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) and Relevant Persons Representative (RPR) • Care Act Advocacy • Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) Health Complaints/Health and Social Care Advocacy; and • Community and Peer Advocacy for people who are neurodivergent by way of being autistic, and/or having learning disabilities In addition, Kent County Council will separately commission Medical Capacity Assessments to support DoLS and in readiness for the Liberty Protection Safeguard requirements. The contract start date for both services is anticipated to be the 1 April 2023; with the Advocacy services having an initial contract term of 3 years with no more than 2 years extension, and the Medical Assessment service having initial term of 1 year, plus no more than 1 year extension, subject to final approvals. The procurement process for these services is anticipated to commence in November 2022. Potential providers with an interest in receiving notifications regarding any procurement processes in relation to this notice should email communitywellbeing@kent.gov.uk. Interested parties will not be prejudiced or advantaged by any response or lack thereof to the PIN and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in any future procurement.