Social Care Tenders in Durham

This contract is for Regulation 44 Visits by an Independent Person. The Community Children's Homes maintained by Durham County Council provide support and care for some of our most vulnerable children. Durham County Council is committed to be the best parent we can be for Children in our Care and strives to ensure that we deliver support and care that is as good as every good parent. In addition to this we also host Aycliffe Secure Centre within County Durham for both male and females who have been admitted by courts or councils on a welfare and youth custody basis, this may be due to a risk to themselves or others or because there is a concern about involvement with criminal activities. The Children's Homes Regulations 2015 (Regulation 44) require all providers of Children's Residential Homes, to secure monthly visits (as a minimum) by an Independent Person to undertake a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. There are currently 15 Community Children's Homes maintained by Durham County Council, including a Short Breaks Service and a Step-Down from Secure home. Each of these homes requires monthly Regulation 44 visits conducted by an Independent Person. In addition, Aycliffe Secure Centre comprises a further five homes. Over the course of the contract, the Council plans to develop up to five additional Community Children's Homes. It is anticipated that the scope and value of the contract will be adjusted accordingly as each new home is developed and registered with Ofsted, ensuring ongoing compliance with Regulation 44 requirements. The view of the Council is that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will apply to this contract. However, Bidders should seek their own legal advice as to the applicability of TUPE and as to the effect of the TUPE clause contained in the contract Terms and Conditions.

Durham County Council (the Council) are seeking submissions from suitably experienced and skilled organisations to provide the specified services for the Health, Wellbeing and Night Hub. This includes the Safe Night Hub, Integrated Support Hub and dispersed properties. The main service should be based in one premises which is able to deliver the wrap around support required. The contract will also include the provision of 10 dispersed supported accommodation properties to be used as a step down pathway from the Night Hub. The Health, Wellbeing and Night Hub aims to deliver a preventative, integrated response for adults at risk of homelessness, rough sleeping, or poor health outcomes, particularly those discharged from hospital or unable to safely return to accommodation. The service aims to: •Prevent discharge to the street for eligible adults •Provide immediate, short-term step-down support following hospital discharge •Identify housing needs early and support move-on solutions •Support access to appropriate services such as Housing and homelessness services, Welfare benefits and financial support.GP registration and health appointments (not exhaustive) •Reduce rough sleeping and repeat homelessness •Improve service user engagement with statutory and voluntary services Further details of the requirements are set out in Document 3A Specification which can be accessed free of charge at www.open-uk.org. Permitted Changes to Contract: *Funding for these services is reliant upon the continued availability of funds from both the Council's core budget and The Homeless Prevention Funding. Funding amounts and sources are uncertain over the contract term and therefore DCC may need to invoke either contract modifications or termination as permitted under the relevant sections of the contract terms and conditions. At the Council's discretion, should the Council acquire further funding, including from different sources, additional services may be required and may slightly differ to that detailed in the Specification but will fall under the remit of the Health, Wellbeing and Night Hub service. The Council reserves the right to apply inflationary uplifts to the contract value at its sole discretion and will be based upon the availability of funding and commissioning priorities. The Council reserves the right to modify the service specification if new legislation and/or guidance regarding the delivery of this service is published by the Government. If a successful bidder's contract is terminated, either at the Council's or the provider's discretion, the council has the discretion to approach one or all of the other successful bidders to offer them the opportunity to deliver the Health, Wellbeing and Night Hub service OR go to market for a new supplier.