Provision of befriending, peer support and community integration for people with learning disabilities

The London Borough of Redbridge (“the Authority”) is seeking Tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for the Provision of a befriending, peer support and community integration for people with learning disabilities service. The Service shall provide a Befriending, Peer Support and Community Integration Service for People with Learning Disabilities within the London Borough of Redbridge, by helping them to maintain their quality of life and enhance their capacity to maintain their health and wellbeing; reduce social isolation and promote access to services and benefits available to carers. This service shall comprise of: Part A: Peer Support Scheme • Develop a Peer Support Scheme to support service users and thereby providing minimum waged employment opportunities for a minimum of five (5) people with a learning disability, either on a part time or a full-time basis, to a maximum of thirty (36) hours per week. Hours worked shall be agreed between the peer support worker and the Provider. • Provide Peer Support training to enable individuals with a learning disability to gain experience and confidence in the workplace and complement staffing in working with service users. • Provide a focus on achieving potential longer-term employment opportunities and unsupported work for people trained on the peer support scheme. Part B: Befriending Activities • Provide a range of befriending evening and weekend activities that encourage people with learning disabilities to be active within the local community and are developed according to agreed outcomes of the service users. • Empower adults with a learning disability to access sport, educational, vocational and leisure opportunities to learn new skills or hobbies, support social interaction and community cohesion. Part C: Capacity building • In conjunction with other agencies/ volunteer bodies, the Provider shall build up a bank of volunteers with the requisite skills and experience to support adults with a learning disability to access a variety of activities. • Work collaboratively with local employers, HASS Community Locality Teams, local business and other local voluntary sector organisations to develop employment opportunities for peer mentors/travel support.