Kirklees Advocacy Hub (KMCAS-114)

An information session is being held on Thursday 3 May 2018 at 13.30 hrs for interested tenderers, at a Huddersfield location with car parking available. To register your interest and attendance please e mail Jan.Ibbotson@kirklees.gov.uk NO LATER than Tuesday 2 May 2018, stating YOUR NAME, THE ORGANISATION YOU REPRESENT AND YOUR CONTACT E MAIL ADDRESS. Please note that a maximum of 2 PLACES per organisation are available, please indicate if you would like a second person from your organisation to attend. If you wish to send questions in advance, so that we can incorporate the answers into the presentations, please e mail them to Gill.Neale@kirklees.gov.uk. All questions asked and answered at the event will be published on YORtender afterwards.

Kirklees Council wish to commission an Advocacy Hub which consists of the following services:
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
• Relevant Person Representative Services (RPR)
• Care Act Advocacy
• General Advocacy
• Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy (NHSCA)

Advocacy services are provided for eligible people to ensure that they are able to:
• Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them.
• Express their views and concerns.
• Defend and safeguard their rights.
• Have their views and wishes considered when decisions are being made about their lives.
• Access information and services.
• Explore choices and options

The aims of the Hub are:
• To ensure the meaningful involvement and influence of individuals and groups in the care, support, and services that they receive.
• To raise the profile of advocacy and self-advocacy and work to promote and create a culture in Kirklees that encourages individual empowerment and involvement.
• To maintain a flexible organisational structure which facilitates links within the various elements of the Advocacy Hub, and is able to deal with fluctuations in demand.
• To develop strong working relationships with external organisations, particularly others providing advocacy, Healthwatch, the Council and health organisations.

The services are currently delivered under separate contracts and by different service providers, however the new Advocacy Hub Contract will be awarded to one successful economic operator, to deliver the full requirements of the service specification. Consortia bids will be welcomed.

The anticipated start date for the contract is 1st October 2018 or such other date as may be agreed. It is anticipated that the contract will be for 3 years with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 month periods up to 30 September 2023, or other such date in line with the start date.

The estimated total annual value of the contract is £354,559.00. The current split across each of the service areas is:
IMCA and RPR - £120,000.00
Care Act Advocacy - £180,559.00
NHS Complaints Advocacy - £54,000.00

The Service is likely to be subject to the implications of the Acquired Rights Directive EU2001/23/EC and theTransfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246) (as amended) (“TUPE”).However it is a matter for the Tenderers to determine for themselves whether or not TUPE applies to theirprospective Tenders, and it is strongly recommended by the Council that Tenderers seek their own independentprofessional advice (including any legal, financial or actuarial advice) in this respect in order to fully understandthe potential consequences of TUPE before compiling and submitting their final tender submissions to the Council.

Due to the anticipated value of the contract for care services the Council will be required to run a procurement exercise under the light touch regime set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This is following a process akin to the open procedure stage.