TC282 - Advocacy Hub Services

The Borough Council of Bolton ("the Authority") is prepared to receive tenders for Advocacy Hub Services which will be subject to the information, specification and tender package enclosed.

The Borough Council of Bolton requires a single gateway and coherent service pathway which will meet all relevant statutory advocacy obligations together with a range of lower-level interventions and materials which will bear down on demand. It is anticipated that this will minimise back office time and infrastructure costs to deliver best value. This service is being referred to as the "Advocacy Hub".

The primary role of the Advocacy Hub will be to:

• Provide a single point of contact for all advocacy queries/referrals (IMHA, IMCA, Care Act Advocacy and ICA).
• Provide a clearer pathway and fewer transition points between services - e.g. if someone has an IMHA but then comes off a Mental Health Act Section, they could still keep the same advocate rather than having to be transferred to another service and another advocate.
• Maintain a local Bolton-based service which understands and responds to the needs of Bolton people and Bolton services.
• Provide flexibility - enabling greater scope to move resources within the Hub at times of increased demand for one type of advocacy provision.
• Provide a cost effective service