Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Commissioning 2023 - Phase 3

The Single Homeless Pathway is to be recommissioned as a Specialist Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and Services to support the Single Homeless Pathway. It will be referred to as the Single Homeless Pathway for simplicity throughout this specification.

The Single Homeless Pathway was intended to deliver service improvement, with better value and aligned outcomes for single homeless people. This included those with ’no fixed abode’, sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping and those threatened with homelessness.

Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) refers to a comprehensive range of services and support that aims to provide individuals with accurate, relevant, and personalised information, advice, and guidance to help them make informed decisions about various aspects of their lives.

IAG services are often offered by organisations, agencies, or professionals in fields such as education, employment, career development, social services, and more. The goal of IAG is to empower individuals to make choices that align with their goals, needs, and aspirations. The components of IAG entail:

Information: Providing factual and up-to-date knowledge on a specific subject or topic. This could include details about available options, resources, services, regulations, and opportunities.

Advice: Offering recommendations, insights, and expert opinions based on the individual's situation and circumstances. Advice is tailored to help individuals understand the implications of their decisions and explore potential paths.

Guidance: Assisting individuals in navigating complex situations, processes, or decision-making scenarios. Guidance involves helping individuals assess their options, weigh pros and cons, and choose a course of action that aligns with their goals.

Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) refers to a comprehensive range of services and support that aim to provide individuals with accurate, relevant, and personalised information, advice, and guidance to help them make informed decisions about various aspects of their lives.

IAG services are often offered by organisations, agencies, or professionals in fields such as education, employment, career development, social services, and more.

The goal of IAG is to empower individuals to make choices that align with their goals, needs, and aspirations.

Components of IAG entail:

Information: Providing factual and up-to-date knowledge on a specific subject or topic. This could include details about available options, resources, services, regulations, and opportunities.

Advice: Offering recommendations, insights, and expert opinions based on the individual's situation and circumstances. Advice is tailored to help individuals understand the implications of their decisions and explore potential paths.

Guidance: Assisting individuals in navigating complex situations, processes, or decision-making scenarios. Guidance involves helping individuals assess their options, weigh pros and cons, and choose a course of action that aligns with their goals.

In recent years, as a consequence of Cost of Living pressures, the Warm Home, Better Health service has been supporting more people across the borough, those of which are from vulnerable groups. The service is expected to support these residents to tackle fuel poverty and take control of their lives.

The overall objectives of the service is:

• To reduce ill health and excess winter mortality associated with cold homes through improving the energy efficiency of homes of people at risk of experiencing fuel poverty;
• Provide measures and innovation to support Kingston councils’ sustainability goals;
• To improve health and wellbeing of vulnerable residents through raising awareness and providing relevant prevention information, signposting, and referrals;
• To alleviate fuel poverty in income poor households by offering tailored energy efficiency advice, energy efficiency measures and assisting with completing grant applications;
• To support the Councils’ climate emergency strategies and objectives through delivering a number of energy saving small measures outlined in the service specification;
• To reduce the effect of extreme social isolation on people living in Kingston, and
• Improve the quality of life for people who use their service.

The aim of this outcome-based specification is to ensure people in Kingston are socially connected, are able to meaningfully contribute to their community, and can access the practical support they need to maintain their independence.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames aims to procure a passenger-oriented Adult Social Care Community Transport model - one where the Provider delivers a service that is personable, helpful, and committed to passenger safety. The Council also aims to commission a Provider that delivers value for money, works cooperatively with the Council through consistent, proportionate performance and contract management arrangements and ensures that maximum community benefits are achieved through this 3-year + 1-year + 1-year contract.

The Council aims to implement a Single / Lead Provider model, where one Provider will ensure all aspects of the service specification and strategic objectives are achieved; if not deliverable as a stand alone provider then through subcontracting and / or other mechanisms in partnership with local providers.

he aim of this outcome based specification is to ensure people in Kingston are socially connected and resilient and are able to meaningfully contribute to their community, and can access the practical support they need to maintain their independence.

The Council aims to deliver value for money, establish consistent, proportionate performance and contract management arrangements and ensure that the maximum community benefits are achieved through the award of this 3 years + 1 year + 1 year contract.

The approach adopted by the commissioner is to work with the successful Provider to agree key outcomes from this new service, rather than being prescriptive about exactly how the service should be delivered. This approach aims to promote creative and innovative ways of working that are flexible and responsive in order to meet the diverse range of fluctuating nature of service user needs.

The expectation is that, following the contract award, the council will use the Mobilisation period to collaborate with the chosen Provider to plan and trial new ways of working and practice, explore new solutions and develop new models of service delivery to reflect emerging needs. This collaboration will include agreeing outcomes and key performance indicators.

Respite refers to a period of temporary relief or rest for individuals who are caregivers for someone else, often family members or friends caring for a loved one with a disability, chronic illness, or special needs. Caregiving can be emotionally and physically demanding, and respite offers caregivers an opportunity to take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.

During a respite period, the primary caregiver may have the chance to step away from their caregiving role and attend to their own needs, engage in self-care activities, or simply take time for personal rest and rejuvenation. Respite can vary in duration, ranging from a few hours to several days or weeks, depending on the needs of the caregiver and the availability of alternative care arrangements.

Respite care can be provided in various settings, including:

In-home Respite: Trained caregivers or volunteers come to the care recipient's home to provide care while the primary caregiver takes a break.

Adult Day Care Centers: Care recipients can attend daycare centres designed for adults during the day, allowing the caregiver to have some time off.

Residential Respite: Care recipients may temporarily stay in a facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility, for a short period while the caregiver takes a break.