Provision of Services as part of the Medway Voluntary Community Sector Better Together Consortium

Medway Council wish to procure a new Medway VCS Better Together Consortium service. The contract forms a collaborative working partnership to support and improve life outcomes for Medway residents and a resilient Voluntary Community Sector within Medway.

The services are divided into 4 Lots -

Lot 1 Infrastructure to support the VCS Organisations in Medway, to support a resilient and thriving VCS.

Lot 2 Local Healthwatch Medway, to support the provision of an independent patient voice.

Lot 3 Adult and Young Carers Support Services, that supports:

-Information, Guidance and Advice for Carers.

• A Young Carers support service, that ensures young carers are not undertaking inappropriate caring roles.

• Carers Support Payments, which enable both adults and young carers to take respite or to reach their life goals and to live independent healthy lives and avoid a crisis.

Lot 4 Children and Adults Visually Impaired (VI) Support and Information Service, which will maintain the VI Registers and supports independent living, rehabilitation, and prevention of age-related eye conditions.

The Medway VCS Better Together Consortium key objectives are:

• One set of mutually agreed Key Performance Indicators.

• A single point of contact to address relevant issues, risks and opportunities.

• Strategic outcomes achieved by effective collaborative working relationships.

• Maximum use of community resource.

• The creation of a mutually agreed collaborative Action Plan.