Advocacy Market Engagement/ Tender information

1. Introduction
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is constantly seeking to improve the ways in which services are delivered within the borough. The Council aims to meet this objective by creating, maintaining and improving our working partnerships with relevant organisations and stakeholders. It is with this principle in mind that the Council is seeking to engage with the market in shaping the commissioning and procurement plans within the development of the Advocacy Service model to be delivered within the borough.

2. Context
Since 1st April 2015 the Care Act (2014), which focuses on wellbeing and prevention, has placed a new duty with on local authorities. This duty is to provide access to independent advocacy to those who would have substantial difficulty in being involved in care and support ‘processes’ and have no appropriate individual(s) e.g. carer, family or friend, who can support their involvement.
The Council’s overall aim is to ensure that statutory duties and strategic priorities are met through sustainable, quality services and that all residents have equity of access to independent advocacy services.
Current Advocacy Services
Advocacy services within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames aim to meet the Council’s commissioning responsibility around wellbeing and prevention. Current services, provided by three organisations, are:
• Independent Advocacy
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
• Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy
• Appropriate Adult service
3. Commissioning Intentions
The Council’s priority is to commission a service that meets the care and support needs of the entire population, so independent advocacy will be looked at in conjunction with the both the statutory and non-statutory advocacy provision. The Council intends to commission Independent Advocacy, IMCA, IMHA, NHS Complaints Advocacy and Appropriate Adult as single service, with a Single Point of Access, that will coordinate, oversee and provide all elements of advocacy.
This commissioning option will help the Council have a better overview of the whole advocacy provision whilst improving accessibility for people using the service. It is the intention that this model is an inclusive model whereby anyone can receive support for advocacy without having to navigate several organisations for support.
It is the Council`s intention to begin a procurement exercise in the early part of 2016 in order to secure the required advocacy provision within the borough. The Council is now testing the market to better understand how the service/services could be delivered to address the priorities set out above and to meet wider objectives.

The Council will provide information realting to the commissioning intentions for these services.
The Council will continue to engage with organisations and individuals prior to the proposed tender, and welcome comments during this period.