Social work services

Tender description

In September 2019 a new purpose built Extra Care Development which will contain 44, 2 bedroom units will open to tenants’ with extra care needs at Spynie in Elgin. This building which is currently under construction will be owned and maintained by Hanover Scotland Housing Association. The Council wishes to utilise this Prior Information Notice to establish the likely level of interest amongst care providers in tendering to provide the Extra Care Services required. We are keen to promote choice in care and therefore wish to explore all the options that may be available for the delivery of care at the new Spynie Development and wish to hear from all interested parties who would be able to provide the required level of care. The Development consists of a 3 storey main building comprising 30, 2 bedroom units with additional amenity accommodation in the grounds of 2 family bungalows and 6 2 storey blocks containing 12, 2 bedroom flats. The building and operation of similar facilities at both Varis Court, Forres, and Linkwood at Elgin has been undertaken by Hanover Housing Association. The site at Spynie is intended to be complete in September 2019, moving into use thereafter. At Spynie, the proposal is to explore the possibilities of all the care required being provided by one social care provider. Hanover Housing Association will still deal with the housing management for the tenants as required as a Housing Association landlord. The Service will enable vulnerable people who are assessed as needing care and support to live as independently as possible. Service users will be encouraged to exercise choice in their lifestyle whilst carers will be supported to continue in their caring role. Where possible the Service will adopt a re-ablement focus which aims to help people maximise their level of independence by learning or relearning the skills necessary for daily living. The outline requirements for Spynie residents includes: — the care provider must be able to offer 24 hour care on-site and the level of care made available should provide a genuine alternative to a care home. The care will be commissioned in line with the individual’s social work care plan. It is estimated that the personal care offered to the tenants in their own flats may, once fully occupied range from 400 to 500 hours per week with the additional requirement for the care provider to be on site to provide 24 hour care if required for the all the tenants, — outcomes for Spynie Extra Care housing should include quality of life improvements, health improvements, increases in independence levels and achieving a ‘home for life’ (i.e. avoiding the need to move on when frailty increases). The environment being delivered through the build programme is intended to make it easier for clients to live more independently, — building on these outcomes, the model for care offered will require the care provider to adopt a re-ablement approach which promotes independence as a priority, prolonging the service user’s ability to live at home and where possible removing or reducing the need for commissioned care hours in comparison with levels of personal care needed before they took up their new tenancy. The service specification for which tenders will be invited will include the following: — an ability to provide personal care in accordance with individual care plans across all care groups including Older people, People with Dementia, people with a learning disability, people with mental health issues and people with physical or sensory disabilities, — a ‘step up’ community re-ablement service (designed to promote and improve people’s ability and confidence to live independently in their own home), — to use an Electronic Homecare Monitoring (EHM) system to log the start and finish time of the commission care, — the provider will be expected to provide long term maintenance care (ie support to maintain client tenancy); which includes the social care and continuing health care packages that are transferred over when the tenant moves in to the Spynie Development, — 24/7 provision including waking nights for those people who require this in the short or longer term, fulfilled by a member of staff being on-site overnight, and during daytime periods when other care staff are not present.