Provision of a Direct Payments Support Service

Descriptions

Torfaen County Borough Council is seeking tenders from suitably qualified and experienced providers for the provision of a Support Service for People who receive Direct Payments from the local authority to purchase their own social care and support. The provision will include the option for service users to use the Service Provider’s payroll system in a way which is beneficial to both the service users and the local authority in terms of cost and efficiency. The emphasis will be on direct support provision to assist the local authority promote and build on the number of people receiving a direct payment. This will be done by way of targeted support with the aim of encouraging self management but also providing more regular support where it is needed to help a person manage their direct payment. The Service will encompass the development of trusts and indirect payments and the Support Service provider will work proactively with the local authority in any developments relating to Citizen Directed Support. The support provider will be flexible to meet the needs of people who are self managing their direct payment but will also be assertive in identifying, with the local authority, where someone is not able to continue managing a direct payment. Key successes of the service will be both a significant increase in the take up of direct (and indirect) payments and increased cost effectiveness of the service based on effective service developments.During the period of the contract, opportunities for collaboration with other neighbouring local authorities will be explored and the Support Service provider will be expected to assist in collaborative developments in Direct Payments and Citizen Directed Support which benefit service users, carers, support providers and local government across the South East Wales region.The contract will be for an initial period of 3 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years subject to a successful evaluation and/or developing collaborative opportunities. The anticipated start date for the contract is 1st October 2011.