Social work services with accommodation

Tender description

The Council wishes to procure a No Second Night Out (NSNO) Service with effect of 1 April 2021. The services required are set out below. The location of the service in the City is still to be determined. The Council are considering the option of leasing a 47-bed building in central Brighton, however the Council would also be interested in a working with a provider with access to suitable premises. Learn more about the NSNO service here: https://www.homeless.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/policy-and-lobbying-priorities/no-second-night-out-campaign Providers interested in delivering such a service with or without accommodation are invited to contact the Council in order to submit a formal expression of interest in the procurement. Brighton and Hove City Council is keen to work collaboratively with a service provider or providers to deliver these services within a short timeframe and to a good standard. We are looking for: • the provision of a 24-hour No Second Night Out Service; • a service which will operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year; • a service which will operate a minimum of 47 bed spaces overall. The service will: • be for homeless people who have been found rough sleeping in Brighton and Hove for the first time; • receive referrals from the street outreach service via a robust referral and assessment process. Client data will be managed through the Bthink IT system; • offer a flexible but clear referral process which allows placements to be made on the spot if a vacancy is available; • have no minimum stay but will have a target for the average stay for the majority of users of 45 days; • complete a robust triage assessment for individuals for a range of support and accommodation needs which will be completed within 24 hours of attending the service; • stabilise clients by ensuring they feel safe and that their basic needs are being met; • identify an appropriate accommodation option for an individual and make appropriate referrals and will work with housing options to ensure that the service is part of a pathway that includes assessments of local authority duties and provision of a personalised housing plan; • facilitate reconnections to other local authority areas or beyond for people with no local connection to Brighton and Hove; • provide a psychologically informed environment for staff and service users. The contract will not be subdivided into lots therefore it is the expectation of the commissioners that the services will be provided by a single provider. Due to the timing and sensitivity of the services being provided, the Council would request that only organisations who have a real and present chance of fulfilling the specification submit expressions of interest in response to this request. Your organisation (or in the case of consortium bids, all members of the consortium) will be required to demonstrate the following: • strong experience of working with people who are at risk of sleeping rough; • experience of providing an assessment and accommodation service; • experience of working with clients with a range of support needs; • experience of working with people to provide rapid accommodation assessments; • detailed knowledge of PIE and TIC; • experience of assessing risk and developing risk management plans; • the ability to work collaboratively with a range of services; • experience of providing a safe environment and managing a building the accommodates vulnerable people, including working with neighbours and the local community. The proposed contract length for this service is 1 year, with a 1-year extension subject to performance and continued funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Please respond to this call for competition by sending your expression of interest to procurement@brighton-hove.gov.uk by the closing date listed below. Within your expression of interest please cover the below: • a brief overview of what you could deliver/suggestions for delivery; • whether you have any premises available or any suggestions for premises (You are welcome to express an interest in running a service even if you do not have a building available); • how quickly you would be able to mobilise the service.