Advocacy Services: Lot 1 – Children’s Advocacy, Independent Visitors & Care Leavers Services and Lot 2 - Adult’s Advocacy Service. Ref.: I-1841

Tenderers are invited to tender for the provision of Services as described in Appendix 1 Specification for the Provision of Children's Advocacy, Independent Visitors & Care Leavers (Lot 1) and Adult's Advocacy Services (Lot 2).

Advocacy services provide the support which enables an individual, usually a vulnerable person, to understand and communicate their choice or express their views on issues and participate in making decisions which affect them.

The Council has a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that some form of independently led support is available for eligible children, young people, and adults.

The Lot 1: Children's Advocacy, Independent Visitors & Care Leavers Services include:

• Specialist IMCA, IMCA DoLS
• Paid Relevant Person's
• Representative, Rule 1.2
• CoPDoLS service to those people eligible under the Mental Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (General) Regulations 2006, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (Expansion of Role) Regulations 2006: and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA)
• Regulation 44 Visits
• Independent Visitors Service
• Care Leavers Services

The Lot 2: Adult's Advocacy Services include:

• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service (IMCA & (IMCA DoLS)
• Paid Relevant Person's Representative Service (RPR)
• Rule 1.2 (CoPDoLS)
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service (IMHA) - within Secure Hospital and Prison settings
• NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy Service
• Independent Care Act Advocacy Service (ICAA)
• Community Advocacy
• Empowerment Network

The Provider(s) will be expected to work collaboratively to ensure continuity and consistency across both services.

The highest price bidders can submit is £1,708,430.24 (3 years) - this total is for both Lot 1 and Lot 2 combined. It is anticipated, due to legislative changes that may occur during the Contract Period, that service demand may increase. If this occurs and the Council agrees, the estimated value for the Services may increase up to the value of £4,312,215.00. Appropriate rights are reserved under the Contracts for the Council to require the Service Provider to meet the anticipated increased demand.

The subject matter of this procurement process relates to the delivery of services which are listed to in Schedule 3 to the regulations. As such, the procurement process adopted by the Commissioners has been developed in accordance with Regulation 76 of the regulations and in particular in accordance with the fundamental public procurement principles of transparency and equal treatment.

Full details are available through the Council's e-tendering portal at sebp.due-north.com ↗ (ref DN695419)