Health and social work services

Tender description

This is a Negotiated process starting with the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) and Invitation to Submit Initital Tenders (ISIT). The ISIT issued to participants sets out details of the authority’s requirements and how to complete your Submission. Please ensure you read it carefully. The Lots are as follows (of which you can apply for all or any Lot): — Lot 1 generalist advice at Tier 1 and Tier 2, — Lot 2 specialist debt advice, — Lot 3 specialist housing advice, — Lot 4 specialist employment advice. Service requirements for each lot are contained in: ITN Annex 1.1 — ISIT Part 0 — Common specification, ITN Annex 1.2 — ISIT Part 1 — Lot 1 generalist advice at Tier 1 and Tier 2, ITN Annex 1.3 — ISIT Part 2 — Lot 2 specialist debt advice, ITN Annex 1.4 — ISIT Part 3 — Lot 3 specialist housing advice, ITN Annex 1.5 — ISIT Part 4 — Lot 4 specialist employment advice, ITN Annex 1.6 — ISIT Part 5 — negotiables and non-negotiable aspects of the specifications. The generalist advice service must be provided across Tier 1 (assisted information and signposting) and Tier 2 (generalist advice, with and without casework). Advice must be provided by the Provider for Lot 1, accross the 7 advice categories; welfare benefits; debt; housing; employment; immigration; community care; and family issues. The generalist advice service must be delivered by the provider, primarily from the authority’s premises and must include the following deliverables: Establishing the assessment and referral gateway with the authority. Be the first point of contact for all clients and partners accessing the Social Welfare Advice service, through the range of channels detailed below, to be maintained by the provider: — 37 hours min' per week telephony, — Email advice, — Web-based services with a website, — 35 hours minimum per week front of house face to face advice, — 63 hours minimum of face to face outreach provision from the 9 designated Locations, — Home visits where necessary. This includes but is not limited to: — reducing debt for the residents of the City, — eliminating debt, where possible, for Clients, — lowering debt on both a short-term and long-term basis, — tenancy and home sustainment and reducing homelessness, through rent payments and reducing rent arrears, — assisting those clients experiencing discrimination, victimisation or harassment, — achieving a higher disposable income for City residents, — achieving a reduction in the number of priority debts for the residents of the City, — reducing the number of City residents seeking advice from fee charging advice companies, — improving financial wellbeing for the residents of the City, — reduction in preventable court and enforcement costs incurred by City residents, — increased revenue for the City, and — maximising the income for the council through ensuring the repayment of council debts (Council Tax arrears, rent arrears and other sundry debts) are affordable, — home visits where necessary. This includes but is not limited to: — court representation and advocacy, — preventing homelessness of clients, — ^reducing repossessions, including Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP), — preventing evictions including Section 21 from private rented sector landlords, — reducing rent or mortgage arrears of clients, — undertaking negotiations with landlords, across all tenures, bailiffs and other enforcement agencies, — addressing enforcement issues such as repairs, disrepair and landlord responsibilities, landlord harassment, discrimination and tenancy deposits, — negotiating payment plans, — support with seeking a re-assessment of housing benefit /universal credit entitlement, — avoiding bailiff action and associated costs; and, — referral of clients through the referral gateway, where appropriate, to resolve any other associated issues, through the CRM System e.g. support for clients to obtain in-work and out-of-work benefits, — home visits where necessary. This includes but is not limited to: — representation and advocacy at employment tribunals, — sustaining employment, particularly through informal /formal negotiation with employers and resolution(s) reached through conciliation e.g. contact with ACAS, — contracts of employment, including zero hour contracts, — rights at work e.g. pay, contracts, holiday entitlement, flexible working, — access to redress for unfair treatment, dismissal or discrimination, — referrals to support clients to obtain in-work and out-of-work benefits, — referrals to the gateway, where appropriate, to resolve any other associated issues, through the common CRM System e.g. support for clients to obtain in-work and out-of-work benefits, and — home visits where necessary.