Social work and related services

Tender description

This contract is for the delivery of infrastructure support to the Kent voluntary sector and includes the promotion of volunteering and the brokerage of volunteers. The service will support organisations to deliver their charitable aims and deliver the aspirations set out in the Kent Voluntary Sector Policy. The sector is diverse and the support organisations need to ensure they are sustainable must therefore reflect this. Whilst many organisations have no financial relationship with KCC, others are providers of services on our behalf. Our future support should create the right environment for all parts of the sector to continue meeting their charitable aims. Delivery is across Kent (excluding Medway) and the successful provider/s must have the ability to demonstrate local representation and provide tailored support across the whole voluntary sector. Engagement to date has indicated that a collaboration of providers is likely to best meet the outcomes specified and KCC would therefore encourage bids which incorporate a number of providers. The new contract is due to commence on the 1.1.2017 and be in place for three with two optional extensions of one year. The contract amount is 1 500 695 GBP over 3 years with a maximum value in any one year of 615 000 GBP The successful provider will need: — to support VCSE organisations in Kent to develop and grow to improve their longer term financial sustainability; — to enable the sector to demonstrate impact, social value and support them in promoting and increasing community capacity in their local area; — to support the sector in promoting, delivering and facilitating social action and volunteering in their communities; — to represent the sector and provide an efficient communication and information channel across the VCSE (voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise)organisations, and between the sector and KCC; — to support the development of healthy communities that promote positive lifestyle choices and roll out of Making Every Contact Counts ( MECC).