Daycare services

Tender description

Daycare services. Shropshire Council is seeking a service provider to manage and develop (on its behalf) both Oak Farm and Innage Lane Day services in South East Shropshire. Applicants must bid for both services. The contract will be for an initial period of 7 years from 1.8.2016 with the option to extend for a further 3 year period up to the 31.7.2026. Oak Farm is a working farm situated in the village of Ditton Priors. The farm provides a day service for 44 adults with learning disabilities in south Shropshire. This equates to 113 day places over 5 days. (Mon — Fri.) People who use the service travel from Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Church Stretton and surrounding areas. Innage Lane is a day service for 21 adults with a learning disability in Bridgnorth. This equates to 73 day places from Monday to Friday. Both the services are run to a high standard by experienced staff and are highly valued by the people who use the services, their families and carers. Shropshire Council is wishing to develop the style of the services by transferring the existing service to a new provider willing to undertake both continuity of service provision in the first instance and redevelopment of the service providing opportunities for individuals to maximise their potential to gain employment. It is considered that the Employee ‘Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (‘TUPE’) will apply to this contract. Also compliance with the provisions The Best Value Authorities Staff Transfers (Pensions) Direction 2007, in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme (as administered by Shropshire County Pension Fund) will also be required. The Council is currently facing unprecedented financial pressures and is unable to invest any additional revenue or capital in any improvements that the successful operator may wish to make to the services Providers are also encouraged to consider how they might seek appropriate external grant funding to further enhance and develop the service. The council is looking, in relation to the delivery of this contract, for proposals from contractors that could help provide social value benefits within Shropshire where practicable. The Council wishes to maximise the social and economic impact of these services and will therefore be seeking a provider who can support volunteering, training and employment opportunities for service users. The Council would also be supportive of proposals which would expand the services to a wider client group.