Advocacy Services - AWARD

Provision of Advocacy Services

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council invites tenders for the delivery of Advocacy Services.

The purpose of the Advocacy Services is to provide high-quality support to Service Users who are legally eligible to receive advocacy under existing legislation, and to provide non-statutory advocacy to inpatients who are voluntarily in hospital due to their mental health diagnosis and treatment. These Services will ensure that as many people as possible in Sandwell who are legally eligible to access these services do access them, have their legal rights upheld, and are effectively supported to engage with the processes and decisions in relation to their health and social care needs. The services will ensure that the Service User's voice (or best interests in the case of IMCA/IMCA DOLS) are at the heart of any decisions made and ensure maximum choice, safety and independence for service users.

The services in this contract are:

1. Care Act Advocacy
2. Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy / Deprivation of Liberty (IMCA/ IMCA DoLS) and Relevant Paid Person Representatives (RPPR)
3. Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) and Inpatient Mental Health Advocacy
4. Independent Complaints Advocacy (ICAS)

The successful contractor will be required to deliver Advocacy Services in compliance with legislation including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Amendment Act 2005 and the Amendment Act 2019, Mental Health Act 1983 and NHS and Social Care Act 2012, and to ensure all services are flexible and responsive to developments in legislation, policy and guidance, and to any variations in demand for any of the services.

The successful contractor will also be required to work to outcomes, including:

• oImproved awareness and take up of Statutory Advocacy
• oImproved services and service practices

The duration of the contract will be four (4) years from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028. Tenderers should note that the Council has a maximum budget for all services which is ?246,242 per contract year, and a maximum total contract value over the duration of the contract being ?984,968. Further details can be found in the Invitation To Tender (ITT) documentation.

The Council will be using the In-tend e-Tendering System for this Procurement exercise, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc to access the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. From here you will be able to register your company, express an interest in the opportunity, and gain immediate access to the ITT and other related documents. In Order To View and Submit a Tender, you will be required to` Opt-In`. For a Step by Step user guide to the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal please click on the `Guidance for Suppliers` section of the website. All procurement responses must be carried out via the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. If you require further assistance in respect of the system please contact the ...