Health and social work services

Tender description

For the avoidance of doubt this is not a Call for Competition — this is to initiate a Market Engagement/ Soft Market Testing process. Healthwatch Staffordshire is an independent consumer champion for both health and social care services in Staffordshire. The aim of this service is to ensure they work in the best interests of patients, service users and residents and utilise intelligence gathered to influence commissioning and improve overall quality of health and social care provision. Staffordshire County Council is going to market to recommission this service with effect from 1 April 2017. We want to commission a provider who can support and shape the Staffordshire Sustainability and Transformation Programme (STP) and the Health and Well-being Board priorities by ensuring plans reflect the patient and user voice. In doing this their role is to help improve the overall quality of health and care outcomes across Staffordshire. For the avoidance of doubt this service excludes the geographic area covered by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The successful provider will be expected to: — Develop and maintain good and effective working relationships with all key stakeholders, both locally and nationally across the health and care sector. — Provide support and influence key stakeholders in the design and delivery of Staffordshire's health and care outcomes. — Ensuring there is a public voice on how services are planned, commissioned and delivered. — Using the public and patient voice to make a difference locally, ensuring there are appropriate linkages with key decision making structures, including its statutory role on the Health and Well-being Board to do this. — Have a good understanding of the Staffordshire's health and care system in order to signpost people to the right health and care services. Healthwatch has an associated role in helping people to make a complaint about local health services independent of the NHS, via an Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS). We are currently exploring different delivery options with the potential for this to be included in the scope of the Healthwatch service. The estimated annual budget could be up to £585,000 per annum. As part of the market engagement process, events will be held to obtain feedback from interested providers to help shape the model and future provision. Two events will be held: — Wednesday 27.7.2016 at 10:00 till 12 noon at Newcastle Community Fire Station, Knutton Lane, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 2SL. — Thursday 4.8.2016 at 10:00 till 12 noon at Cannock Community Fire Station, Old Hednesford Road, Cannock, WS11 6LD. Please note: Both events will have the same content; providers will only need to attend 1 event. To participate in this process we would like to invite organisations interested in this opportunity to email michelle.davies@staffordshire.gov.uk to request a place at one of the events.