SCC PT Independent Carers Support Services Tender

Tender description

Surrey County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Surrey have reviewed their funding arrangements for supporting carers and are seeking proposals to deliver a new area based carers support service. This will be for a contract for up to four years being for two years in the first instance with the opportunity for this to be extended by mutual agreement for two further periods of one year. This new integrated service replaces a range of grant funded provision comprising local carers support and training for carers, a learning and work service and a GP recognition project that works with GP practices. It is thought that moving to an area basis for carers support should allow for savings in back office costs, increased use of triage, better use of technology and should facilitate greater consistency. Effective support for carers will be based on the active promotion of carers’ rights and promoting carer’s choice and opportunities for carers to have a life outside of caring. There should be local delivery but a coordinated approach so as to ensure consistency of response to carers. A strong commitment to partnership working will be essential to promote whole system working, carer friendly communities and a carer friendly NHS. There is a strong preference for services to be delivered by carer led organisations (see definition below). The aim is to provide preventative support for carers in line with the Care Act & Children and Families Act 2014, the Government’s National Carers Strategy and the NHS England integrated approach to identifying and assessing Carer health and wellbeing (2016) A consistent county wide approach is needed but that is locally responsive. To help facilitate this, Surrey is broken into four lots based on areas, with each working to a standard specification.