Other community, social and personal services

Tender description

North, South and East Ayrshire Councils, require an independent organisation to provide information and advice on the options available and to assist supported persons and/or carer(s) to make informed choices and meet identified support plan outcomes. The service will be jointly funded by North, South and East Ayrshire Councils however, North Ayrshire Council will administer the tendering process and will be lead authority for the contract. The service will be delivered to supported persons and/or carer(s) who meet the criteria to access self-directed Support through the Act living across the full geographical area of all three Councils. The Councils currently have a contract in place that is due to expire on 31 July 2020 and therefore the requirement is being retendered. The resultant contract will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by up to 24 months dependent on satisfactory performance and budget approval for the Councils. The Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (‘the Act’) came in to effect 1 April 2014. The Act gives people flexibility around how their eligible identified social care is arranged, delivered and managed. It helps people to make informed decisions about how much choice, responsibility and ongoing control they want over their own support arrangements. The Act imposes a duty on Council's to provide four options to all adults, children and carers eligible for support or provided with services. The Act requires all Councils to explain the nature, effect and impact of all four options. North, South and East Ayrshire Councils must have an independent organisation to provide information and advice on all four options and to assist people in making informed choices to meet their identified support plan outcomes.