Homeless outreach and support service

Tender description

Guildford Borough Council (“the Council”) has for a number of years, working alongside other agencies, provided a homeless outreach and support service within the Borough. The service has an established identity, Guildford HOST (Homelessness Outreach & Support Team). The Council has agreed funding of £819,600 to enable it to continue the provision of this important service between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2021 and now wishes to procure the services of an organisation to manage and staff this service working alongside the Council and other agencies. The service will offer: • assertive outreach for vulnerable people rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping • support to people placed in HOST assessment beds • interventions to prevent former rough sleepers who have secured accommodation from being evicted • resettlement support to former rough sleepers who have secured accommodation The service will follow the principles of good practice as defined by guidance issued by the Department of Communities and Local Governments (CLG) and local policies and protocols agreed by the Council. The Council’s current contract with Home Group Ltd will terminate on 30 June 2016 and there are four employees who the Council anticipate will TUPE to the new service provider. The Council considers that the minimum level of staffing required to deliver an effective service will be a full time manager (carrying a small caseload) and three frontline outreach workers. The Council will require the option to participate in staff recruitment. LOCATION It is anticipated that the majority of individuals the service will support, will be located in and around Guildford town centre. However, the service must also be able to respond to the needs of those sleeping rough across the borough and there may be occasions where resettlement support is required to be delivered to clients assisted to secure accommodation in other areas, including outside Surrey. The service provider is required to have a base centrally located within Guildford town centre.