ESCC-SS Healthwatch and Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service

East Sussex County Council ('the Council') intends to commission the Healthwatch and Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Services under a single contract. The role of the Healthwatch service in East Sussex is to gather the views and understand the experiences of patients, service users, carers, and the wider community including seldom heard groups. Make these views known to commissioners and Providers of health and social care. Promote and support the involvement of these groups in the commissioning and provision of local care services and how they are scrutinised. Provide information, 'signposting' for services and support to make informed choices. Recommend the undertaking of investigations or special service reviews to Healthwatch England and the Care Quality Commission (CQC); and Make the views and experiences of people known to Healthwatch England and provide a steer to help it carry out its role as national champion.

The HCSA imposes a duty on Local Authorities to commission a local IHCAS. Local Authorities are required to commission the provision of assistance for individuals making or intending to make an NHS complaint (which includes a complaint to the Health Service Ombudsman).

The NHS complaints process covers:

All NHS Trusts and NHS Bodies including NHS Foundation Trusts.

Family Health Services provided for the NHS by GPs, Dentists, Opticians or Pharmacists.

Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Private health care establishments if the treatment has been paid for by the NHS; and all other health services commissioned by NHS funding.

Additional information: The Council`s full requirements and details of how to tender for this opportunity are available by clicking the Express Interest button. The deadline for tender submission is 12 noon on 24th September 2021.

How to obtain the Tender Documents

Interested parties should register their interest in the project via the In-Tend website https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sesharedservices/aspx/Tenders/Current. The Tender documents can be accessed when logged into In-Tend by selecting 'View Details' on the relevant tender advert and clicking the 'Express Interest' tab. Once in the tender there are five tabs, namely 'Tender', 'ITT - documents', 'Correspondence', 'Clarifications' and 'History'.

Select the 2nd tab (ITT - documents) where you will find useful information under 'Tender Details'. Continue to scroll down to the heading 'Tender Documents Received' where you will be able to view / download the documents. Please download all the documents and read very carefully.

Opting In and Opting Out

Please note you are required to 'Opt In' before you can access the 'My tender Return' to start populating your response.

The 'Opt Out' functionality will also be available throughout the duration of the tender process. Opting out will give you the option of declaring you no longer want to receive any further communication in relation to this tender along with the opportunity of providing comments and feedback for this decision.

You can choose to 'Opt In' at any time during the tender process if you initially decided to 'Opt Out'.

Further Guidance

In addition, guidance on how to participate in a tender, download and upload documents / returns and if required, register your company (free of charge) can be found on the In-tend site under the 'Help' or 'Information for Suppliers' buttons.

Receiving Notification Emails

To ensure you receive email alerts and notifications from our system, please add the email domain `@in-tendorganiser.co.uk` to your Safe Senders list.

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No