Market engagement Carer services

Tender description

<p>Dorset Council are currently in the process of designing Carers Services to support the delivery of the Carers Strategy. The scope will include Adult Carers 18 years and over, as well as opportunities to support Young Adult Carers who are caring for someone who is a resident of Dorset Council. This contract would seek to prevent, reduce, and delay unpaid carers from developing their own support needs wherever possible using a strengths-based approach. We want carers to feel more in control of their lives, health, and wellbeing. The service will proactively identify carers, to provide not only signposting and advice, but proactive support in the area of need. Carers can feel invisible and not heard. We are keen to ensure Carers are recognised, valued, treated with dignity and respect whilst being supported by their community. We know that caring can be exhausting, it can affect mental and physical health, and in other ways such as housing, employment, access to hobbies, time for themselves, their ability to maintain friendships and in turn this can cause isolation, depression, and loneliness. We have listened to what Carers have told us they need to continue with their caring role, whilst looking after themselves. The goal would be to help Carers manage their caring role, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives, whilst putting themselves first sometimes. The service model must include those who are not digitally connected, or without transport, minority groups, and who need advocacy support. It is expected that the opportunity will be advertised as part of a further competition on the Dorset Care, Support, Housing &amp; Community Safety Framework (DCF) which is currently advertised here: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=0ba433c5-30a9-ec11-8112-005056b64545&amp;p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 To be able to be a part of this opportunity, you need to have been accepted onto the overarching Framework on Lot 22 – Carers. The Procurement Document included with the Dorset Care, Support, Housing &amp; Community Safety Framework (DCF) covers how to apply to join the framework, key information and an outline of the framework lots. We are looking to publicise these opportunities during 2023/2024. There is a market engagement event on 20 April 3pm – 4.30pm. Therefore, you will need to have applied and been accepted onto the DCF before this to be able to the expected further competition contract opportunity. To secure your place at this event and for any further information, please contact Amanda Dunning amanda.dunning@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk Please note this is early market engagement which may or may not result in a contract opportunity being advertised through a procurement process.</p> Keywords: Support, Unpaid carer, Carers, Wellbeing, Health