Domestic Violence: LGBTQ+ and Black & Minority Ethnic Specialist Advocacy Support

Southampton City Council were looking to appoint one or more service providers for the provision of specialist advocacy support to individuals from the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and Others ("LGBTQ+") community and specialist advocacy support to those from Black and Minority Ethnic ("BAME") communities.

Service provision is in the form of 2 single lot contracts as follows:

Lot 1: Specialist advocacy to those from the LGBTQ+ community.

Maximum of £50,000 per annum, i.e. £100,000 for the total term of the contract inclusive of an optional one-year extension period.

Lot 2: Specialist advocacy support to those from BAME communities.

Maximum of £50,000 per annum, i.e. £100,000 for the total term of the contract inclusive of an optional one-year extension period.

Bidders must specify which Lots they are bidding for and can bid to deliver one or both lots.

Service delivery includes the following provisions;

• Case holding advocacy support for individuals over the age of 18 identified as victims of domestic abuse and who are from the LGBTQ+ or BAME communities.
• The requirement to establish links with LGBTQ+ and BAME advocacy group(s) to strengthen the offer of support to these individuals and assist with the development of an engagement programme
• Development and delivery of a training offer for front line staff in conjunction with other groups that provide specialist advocacy support to those from the LGBTQ+ and BAME communities.
• Delivery of a detailed report, encompassing a review of current service delivery, and recommendations to inform future commissioning intentions regarding advocacy support to individuals from the BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.

The service provider will deliver services in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) standards and incorporate the key priorities of the Southampton Domestic Abuse Strategy against domestic violence.

This procurement is being conducted by Southampton City Council ("the Council") and is being run pursuant to Regulations 74, 75 and 76 of Chapter 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("Light Touch Regime").