To lead and facilitate ESOL activities at national level

Health Education England (HEE - the Commissioner) are putting out this notice as a PIN (Prior Information Notice) with a view to completing a Direct Award.

Please note the contracting authority intends to direct award the contract to Credit Works Services. The case for direct award can be found on the tender portal.

25% of the NHS workforce have English as a second or additional language (ESOL) and as such HEE as an organisation has an obligation, under the objectives of the We are the NHS: People Plan 2020/21, to support these colleagues in delivering the best possible patient-centred care. This is relevant to points 2, 3, 5 & 6 of the People Plan - namely Looking after our people, Belonging in the NHS, Growing for the future and Supporting our NHS people for the long term.

If we look at the NHS People Promise, none of these objectives can be achieved for ESOL colleagues without dedicated, proactive, strategic work happening with their needs at the centre. But the need for this work goes far beyond the health and care's sector to its employees, it is at heart of best practice and safe care for patients. This care cannot be delivered by staff who do not understand fully their patients' and or colleagues' needs and requests. Nor can it be delivered by those who cannot fully articulate their own needs and requests. IELTS and OES requirements at entry to certain professions do not go far enough to ensure this level of quality in real terms. HEE can, and must, do more.

To support ESOL colleagues, HEE have successfully established an ESOL Practice Group of employer practitioners in Spring 2021.

However, there is more work to be done to support ESOL specific activity now that the ESOL Practice Group is established and growing.

HEE believe that Credit Works Services is the only supplier who can support the above project requirements until 31 May 2022, with their knowledge and experience (since 2013) in order to lead and facilitate the networking activities of the project to keep up momentum and publicly show HEE's commitment to the ESOL work until May 2022.

The financial envelope for the contract is £30,000.00 exclusive of any VAT.

For the Specification, Contract and the Case for Direct Award please access the portal at: https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?SearchType=Projects

All communications should be made via the messaging function on the Health Family E-Tendering portal.

If any provider has concerns with the commissioning intentions outlined within the published documentation, please raise this via the eTendering Portal in the first instance within 30 days of the date of this Prior Information Notice.

The closing date of this PIN is midday on Monday, 17th January 2022.