Advocacy Service

Description of the contract

Staffordshire County Council (the County Council) is carrying out a tendering exercise for the provision of a Generic Advocacy Service across the County of Staffordshire. The Contract area is a combination of the administrative area of the County Council and the administrative area of the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The Contract Area is divided into two areas, North Staffordshire including Stoke on Trent and South Staffordshire. Fifty percent (50%) of total delivery of the Service must be within the boundary of North Staffordshire and fifty percent (50%) of total delivery of the Service must be within the boundary of South Staffordshire It is estimated that the Contract will commence 22nd October 2012. However this may be reviewed during the tender process and the actual start date will be confirmed with the successful tenderer. The Contract is for the provision of an Advocacy Service and the contract will automatically expire 2 years after the start date in 2014. Any extension of the contract beyond 2014 will be determined by the County Council following an evaluation of the Service which has been delivered by the successful tenderer during the Contract Period. However, the tenderer should note that the County Council has the right to extend the Contract Period by up to a further two (2) years, if this is considered appropriate by the County Council. The principal aim of the Service is to provide independent advocacy support for adults both within the community and NHS settings, including some in-patient settings. People who are eligible to access the Service comprise those who have a learning disability, or a mental health issue, or a long-term condition or disability or who are aged 65 years and over. The Service will support Service Users in speaking up for themselves and being heard. The Service will help Service Users to express and articulate their wishes and claim their rights and will be independent of public service provision. Advocacy is a partnership between two people: the partner, who is at risk of not being heard and their rights ignored; and the Advocate, someone who represents that Partner’s interests as if they were their own. The main purpose of advocacy is to encourage empowerment in order that a Service User can make choices, assert their rights as they see them, and receive the type of services that suits their needs. The period of the contract is two years with effect from the 22.10.2012 with the option to extend by a further period of up to 2 years to 21.10.2016. The contract value is based on the four year period, therefore if the option to extend is not taken, the contract value will be reduced.

 

Documents

 

Classification of the contract

85000000 Health and social work services

 

Who to contact

Email

How to apply

To express an interest and request an Invitation to Tender pack please email commissioning.team@staffordshire.gov.uk quoting the contract title and reference number together with your name, organisation and contact details.