Health and social work services

Tender description

The Commissioning partners are going through a period of considerable change as we continue to make strong progress in delivering personal budgets for our residents and at the same time, seeking to commission a range of diverse services that will enable people to live independently and safely in their own homes for as long as they choose. High quality, local services which promote independence and improve residents' quality of life delaying or preventing the need for health or residential care, are of key importance. Effective support at home can positively impact upon demand for a range of services including those commissioned by health, notably supporting appropriate strategies to reduce inappropriate admissions to acute services through supporting improved effectiveness of community services, promoting wellbeing and healthier lifestyles and in supporting discharge from bed based services. This service has been developed in line with the Care Act 2014, which sets out this vision and general responsibilities for social care, reinforcing the transformation necessary to enable greater choice, control and personalisation. The Care Act also highlights the need for more preventative services that help people maintain well-being through developing more supportive, inclusive and effective communities. Dorset County Council (the ‘Council’) intends to establish a dynamic purchasing system to commission suitable Learning Disability and Mental Health care at home to help the Council deliver Learning Disability and Mental Health related services across the county and at the same time improve procedures to reflect best practice. Providers should note that the types of learning disability support services required may vary over time according to the needs of the individuals being supported and policy requirements. It is anticipated that approx. 3 packages of care will be awarded via a competition on the DPS each week. Each package of care is based on a support plan developed by the Social Work team working with the individual and their family. The support plans are focussed on outcomes for individuals. The outcomes are based on the eligibility outcomes for adults with care and support needs under the Care Act 2014. The DPS will consist of the following Lots, and Tenderers may apply for admission to the lot they feel most suited to: — Lot 1 — Bronze Tier Provider, meeting level C of the Dorset County Council Quality Assessment Framework — Lot 2 — Silver Tier Provider, meeting levels C and B of the Dorset County Council Quality Assessment Framework — Lot 3 — Gold Tier Provider, meeting levels C, B and A of the Dorset County Council Quality Assessment Framework Examples of the person centred services to be awarded via call off contracts are listed below. The list provides an indication of services and is not exhaustive: — People where there is a planned reduction in paid support — People with profound and multiple learning disabilities — People under supervision by the ministry of justice — People with autism with behaviours that challenge services — People with complex or enduring mental health conditions — People with learning disabilities with behaviours that challenge services — People who have a track record of offending or are at risk of doing so — Young People moving through the transition pathway (16+) — Providers who specialise in the provision of meaningful day activities (including volunteering) and/or employment The Dorset County Council Quality Assessment Framework is a set of nationally defined standards to ensure high quality services, with guidance on how to apply and use these designed standards. The QAF is a mechanism for providers to improve their services as they can self-assess their individual services against the whole QAF and develop continuous improvement plans to achieve higher standards. The QAF document can be viewed in full at Appendix 1 of the specification. The DPS will be implemented for 1.6.2016 under the basis of a 2 year + 2 year + 2 year contract subject to satisfactory performance for the provider.