Edinburgh's Blended Employability Services

Tender description

Edinburgh Council’s Business Growth and Inclusion (BG&I) Team works with internal and external partners across the City to promote inclusive growth. The Council funds third party services to support Edinburgh residents in accessing and progressing along the Scottish Government’s Employability Strategic Skills Pipeline with the goal of securing and sustaining training and employment. These services are designed to complement national delivery and provide a local response to needs identified. Edinburgh's Blended Employability Services has been developed to complement national provision and provide a range of localised options for those who require support. This has been split into 4 contract requirements, each with their own targets and focus. It is anticipated that European Social Funds (ESF) or any equivalent replacement funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be used to partially fund additional service provision. Lot 2: Supported Employment Service The City of Edinburgh Council will commission a Supported Employment service which reflects the Supported Employment Framework’s five stepped approach. The Supported Employment Framework for Scotland lays out the 5 stepped approach of supported employment, recognising it is a service delivery approach focussing on job outcomes. The aim of Supported Employment is that disabled people and those with long-term health conditions obtain sustainable work in the open labour market, where they are paid the going rate for the job. As part of the model, the emphasis is on obtaining full-time employment, which is defined as 16+ hours. Supported Employment is an employment first model, often described as “place and train” where the emphasis is on finding the person a job as soon as possible and then supporting them within the job. It is anticipated that European Social Funds (ESF) or any equivalent replacement funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be used to partially fund additional service provision within this requirement. Please note that the maximum estimated values stated for this Lot are for the full duration of the contract term. Lot 3: Complex Needs Employability Service The Council requires an employability provision for service users who have complex needs. This is to provide the necessary advice and support to enable them to sustain engagement in the Strategic Skills Pipeline, in line with the ‘Inclusive Edinburgh’ principles. This service must be an intensive employability support service for those in recovery from substance misuse, recent involvement in the criminal justice system, those experiencing homelessness and/or those with significant psycho-social issues or complex trauma. The service will assist people in their progression towards, but not limited to, training, volunteering, further education and employment. This service is limited to people aged 16+. A referral to this service will primarily be made by a social or healthcare professional who has an established and on-going relationship with the Service User. Please note that all estimated values for this contract are maximum estimates and the value declared is for the full term of the contract i.e. 3 years with the option to extend for a further 36 months Lot 4: In Work Employment Support Service (IWESS) The City of Edinburgh Council requires an In-Work Employment Support Service to support those facing in-work poverty to maximise their income and gain more sustainable employment. The Council requires to establish and operate a In Work Employment Support Service, for service users from specific priority groups within the Strategic Skills Pipeline model. The service should respond to the “Edinburgh Economic Strategy – Delivering Good Growth for Everyone”. The service will operate as part of the Strategic Skills Pipeline in Edinburgh, adopting a holistic, ‘no wrong door’ approach and ensuring any service user who accesses the service receives a direct suitable service or a managed referral to another more suitable service provision. As such, integration with other services will be vital. It is anticipated that European Social Funds (ESF) or any equivalent replacement funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be used to partially fund additional service provision for this requirement. Please note that the maximum estimated values stated for this Lot are for the full duration of the contract term. Lot 1: Targeted Employability Service (TES) The Council requires to establish and operate a Targeted Employability Service, supporting service users from specific priority groups within the Strategic Skills Pipeline model. The service should respond to the “Edinburgh Economic Strategy – Delivering Good Growth for Everyone”. The service must be an intensive city-wide service that targets gaps in unemployment provision for service users who have barriers to employment, are facing poverty and not accessing other specialist employability services. It is anticipated that European Social Funds (ESF) or any equivalent replacement funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be used to partially fund additional service provision within this requirement. Please note that the maximum estimated values stated for this Lot are for the full duration of the contract term.