Specialist Outreach Services for Neurodivergent People with Autism & Learning Disabilities’

Cardiff Council and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are currently reviewing Specialist Outreach Services and is seeking expressions of interest from the Specialist Domiciliary (Outreach) Market. Also, from organisations who are committed to promoting a service to meet the needs of neurodivergent people and can deliver this service as detailed within this notice. This is a particular specialist service for people who identify as neurodivergent, have learning disabilities, have complex autism with care and support needs and may have behaviours that challenge. The purpose of the service is to provide flexible wraparound support to individuals who live at home. Targeted support would be identified via the wellbeing assessment and care plan. This service will generally be provided, between the hours of 08:00 – 21:00 7-days a week 52-weeks of the year but is expected to be flexible and dependent upon the needs of the individuals. People will be offered opportunities to access a wide and varied range of mainstream activities in the community. This will include but not be limited to, taking part in social, educational, and training opportunities. Individual outcomes will be person centred and agreed with the Individuals and the commissioner of the services. Have confidence that their personal care and support needs will be met as prescribed within their Social Services Well-being Assessment (SSWA). For clarity the population groups are people who have been assessed/diagnosed as neurodiverse adults with complex care and support needs and: Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) Learning Disability Some people using this service may also have a physical and or a sensory impairment. Individuals may have unique forms of communication. The Service to each individual will be unique and varied as outlined in the Care and Support Plan. The current service is delivered to approximately 17 individuals per week for approximately 280hrs per week. It is anticipated there will be a growth in demand for this service. This service is provided to individuals who may have very complex care and support needs therefore, robust support is to be available to these individuals to ensure that hospital admissions are prevented. The Council will require essential elements of the service as highlighted below Including but is not limited to: Continuity and, consistent employees to support individuals who need one-to-one or two-to-one support as identified within their SSWA. The Outreach service will be delivered at a time that is set out and agreed within the individuals SSWA. (Times may be a critical point to be respected and met for neurodiverse adults with an ASC) The Outreach Service will also need to have the ability to be flexible in providing support to some individuals, who need ad-hoc support on times for example: One-off appointments Exploring new activities / taster days / course attendance Employees will have a full and clean driver’s license Staff will be qualified, skilled, and trained in all aspects to deliver the service Specialist Training: Staff will be highly skilled and trained in the knowledge and understanding of the needs of neurodiverse adults with a diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Condition, Learning Disabilities and or Mental Health Conditions. The Provider will be signed up to and the staff skilled in the Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) model or equivalent. A trained Positive Behavioural Support (PBS), or equivalent, Lead, depending on model used. Staff will need to be trained in Medication Procedures The service will ensure that neurodiverse people: Have access to communications relevant to their identified level of need or preferred language, including Welsh.