Pipeline Framework: Assessment and Review of Social Care Support Services

A pipeline has been launched for Assessment and Review of Social Care Support ServicesThe contract start Date is 01 August 2017. Approach to market date is 29 May 2017The Council aims to release a tender toward the end of May 2017 to appoint suitable providers via establishing a framework agreement consisting of 3 contractual lots with multiple providers on each lot. The framework will provide the provision of professional Social Work Staff with supervisory capacity to undertake re-assessment and reviews with service users and their families (and where required new entrants to receiving care and support from the Council), of individual care and support arrangements funded through the Councils social care budget(s). Staff will have experience in other settings (outside of Barking and Dagenham) which shall be transferable to our local setting. This will add to the local skill mix and provide developmental opportunities for staff in working alongside staff with knowledge, experience and expertise in achieving the required outcomes below. the provision of the framework will provide additional capacity, as and where required, which can be drawn upon to support specific work streams.The outcomes delivered by service providers within the framework will provide innovative solutions to existing support arrangements, alongside seeking in all cases opportunities for a more efficient use of resources to be identified and implemented and intelligence gathered to continue to inform our further market shaping and commissioning strategy.Delivery of the required outcomes requires capacity, knowledge, skills and experience to capture such opportunities, identify changes and gaps in our local market that might require further development and that the Council can take forward with local stakeholdersThere is a statutory duty, reinforced with the advent of the Care Act, to ensure that people are able to access assessment of need and that eligibility is established, and where appropriate ,care and support provided via the provision of a personal budget or through direct service commissioning. Skilled and experienced Social Workers play a key part in market intelligence, informing commissioners of gaps and opportunities, through the lens of their work with individuals and their families.This is a potential opportunity from the government, and the pipeline gives advance notice of an opportunity that might be offered by the public sector in the future – allowing potential suppliers to plan accordingly. When a public sector organisation publishes a pipeline notice, it does not necessarily mean that an opportunity will be offered in the future.For more information contact:London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, 1 Town Hall Square, Barking IG11 7LU. Email: david.millen@lbbd.gov.uk (Mr David Millen)