Social work and related services

Tender description

Aberdeen City Council wishes to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of ESF Progress through Positive Partnerships Employability Pipeline. The purpose of this Invitation to Tender (“ITT”) is to invite tenders for inclusion on this framework agreement in accordance with the requirements detailed in this document. It is envisaged that between three (3) and ten (10) suppliers will be included on any resultant framework agreement in respect of Lot 1 (Key Workers). It is envisaged that a minimum of 5 suppliers will be included on any resultant framework agreement in respect of Lot 2 (Service Provision). Lot 1 – Key workers Over the duration of the strategic intervention it is anticipated that up to 10 FTE key workers will be required. Providers are required to supply appropriately experienced key worker services that will reflect the needs of the identified client groups. (E.g. drugs and alcohol abuse, homelessness, ex-offenders, mental illness, generic etc). Tenderers are required to identify which specialist client groups they are submitting to work with. Key workers will be required to support individuals through the initial engagement stages, action plan development, service referral, through to the ongoing development and modification of action plans to ensure progress at an appropriate pace and route through the employability pipeline. Where appropriate key workers will also provide support to those in the initial stages of employment. Providers can apply to supply any number of key workers from a minimum of .5 fte to a maximum of 10. All key workers will be required to follow a standardised process and be managed on a daily basis by the ESF project manager. Key workers will be required to have extensive employability support experience with specific targeted beneficiary groups as detailed within 1.1 of this Statement of Requirements. It is also a requirement that Key workers have a good understanding of the local economy and opportunities within different sectors. Key workers will also be required to feed client progress into the project management information system. Aberdeen City Council requires a wide range of engagement, training and development services which will deliver against the priorities within stages 2, 3 and 4 of the Scottish government’s employability pipeline, and support clients towards employment, improved employment, further or higher education. It is expected that each offer will have measurable outcomes linking into the Scottish Government Employability Pipeline. The Council will engage with providers who can demonstrate the skills and expertise to provide integrated services for priority client groups with multiple barriers to employment. Providers will require to have access to their own resources and will be able to bring additionality to their work by accessing external funding. They will be required to demonstrate their capacity to deliver high quality, targeted services and be accountable to the Council for the effective administration of external funding resources. For some people with multiple barriers, employability activities need to be part of an integrated and supported approach in order to make sustained changes in other aspects of their lives. This multi-stage approach can include support with other partner services at any stage of the pipeline. This will help people who need sustained and intensive support to manage change in their personal circumstances. Therefore support needs to be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances which can include significant housing, health, personal confidence and capacity challenges. Service delivery therefore shall be integrated and comprehensive including working with specialist services.