Working with Communities Implementation Contract

Descriptions

In respect of the provision of service delivery, the Welsh Assembly Government on behalf of the Welsh Ministers (hereafter referred to as the client) will be procuring the successful organisation to provide a high quality service on behalf of the Client in order to deliver some of the key commitments contained in ‘Working with Communities’ the CD Workforce Action Plan for Wales.It is essential that the service provided is responsive to the needs of the Community Development field and also the client. The contractor may therefore be directed by the Client to undertake additional particular pieces of work on Community Development Learning and workforce development with partners as they arise.RequirementThe successful organisation will be expected to work in partnership on key CD workforce development activities on behalf of the client. More specifically, they will be expected to manage the delivery of the following tasks in partnership with all key stakeholders: Year 1*Work activities marked with an asterisk will continue to be delivered for the entire length of the contract.•Provide a secretariat and facilitate a minimum of 4 meetings a year of a Community Development Learning Network for Wales which will act as a reference group for the activities undertaken throughout the contract.* •Work with appropriate delivery partners to deliver the pilot system for endorsing Community Development Learning in Wales across all levels of attainment with a minimum of two learning instances being assessed using the pilot system by July 2011* Delivery partners will achieve this by; - monitoring the quality of Community Development learning through a pilot peer led system of endorsement against the National Occupational Standards; - working with all partners to establish, support and monitor quality fieldwork placements; - designing and monitoring a recharging process for Higher Education Institutions who wish to endorse their courses. •Work with partners, particularly the Sector Skills Councils, to gather data to shape a Community Development workforce profile by*- developing a robust system to capture data about the Community Development Workforce in Wales with key stakeholders. This data will be regularly analysed and published for all stakeholders. The system will be in place by July 2011.•Communicating and promoting a ‘route’ of Community Development Learning opportunities primarily via new website to be designed and launched before the end of January 2011 by*- developing bilingual information on CD training and learning opportunities including dissemination of existing good practice, using leaflets, a vibrant effective web site, press releases, events etc.- developing and promoting awareness of the Community Development National Occupational Standards particularly via the Communities First Workforce. Including working with partners to design learning opportunities, leaflets, web pages, events etc - publicising best practice examples of CD apprenticeship’s or ‘grow your own’ community development worker projects. •Working with partners across the four nations to ensure a coherent best practice approach is taken to key issues such as workforce development, CD Qualifications, accreditation, and professionalisation. Facilitating a dialogue with the CD field in Wales to ensure a strong voice for Wales at a UK level on these issues.**Work activities under this action will continue to be delivered for the entire length of the contract.Year 2 (Subject to funding and successful delivery of Year 1 activities. Successful delivery will be assessed by the client during regular monitoring meetings, receipt of quarterly reports and an end of year progress report)•Work with the Community Development field and relevant partners to explore a system of recording individual learning and continuing and professional development(C&PD)by- promotion of the concept of C&PD and personal development plans for the workforce, both paid and unpaid. - facilitating a dialogue with the CD Field and beginning to explore a system which is consistent across the whole of the sector and the UK.•Facilitate a dialogue with the field on the development of a voluntary national register of community development workers possibly supported by a code of conduct•Work with all partners, particularly employers and managers including those in the non-paid sector, to develop a learning culture with commitments given that all appropriate training attended is regarded as part of work or volunteering time, and that appropriately trained supervisors are in place•Promoting understanding of Community Development as a career option by working with partners to produce bilingual marketing information, including learning and activity packs for schools and communities. •Promoting good Leadership and Management using the CDNOS by- working with partners to widen access to good quality management and leadership development opportunities particularly drawing on good practice and the National Occupational Standards- considering structures to enable Managers and Leaders to evidence current competency in relation to the management sections of the Community Development National Occupational Standards-brokerage of experience placements across other regeneration professions Due to the nature of the Community Development learning field the successful organisation will need to be flexible in the delivery of their support in order to be able to respond to any developments or changes which occur at a UK or Welsh level. The Client will discuss with the contracting organisation, the key priorities for this as they develop. In terms of reporting, there must be a named central contact point within the contracting organisation who will liaise directly with the client’s Contract Manager in the Communities First Policy Unit. The contracting organisation will be expected to provide quarterly reports to the Welsh Assembly Government’s Policy Unit.It is a matter for the successful organisation to determine how best the recommendations would be provided – this must be detailed in the Tender Application. However, it is essential that, whatever structure is put in place, it is responsive to the direction that will be given from the client, facilitated by clear and straightforward arrangements in respect of employment and management of staff. If areas of work are sub-contracted out, then it will be the responsibility of the central contact point to manage the contracts and relationships and ultimately report to the client. The arrangements for any sub- contracting must be agreed beforehand with the client, who will be entitled to participate, if it so decides, in any tender procedure for the sub-contract.The contract will contain an option to extend for a further 12 months.The awarding Authority reserves the right to request parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial liabilityPayment terms will be indicated in the contract documents. Tenders to be priced in Sterling. Payment made in Sterling only. No special legal form required but joint and several liability assumed by all group bidders before acceptance.The Authority reserves the right to consider variant bidsThe Welsh Assembly Government, on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, will be conducting this procurement exercise through the etenderwales portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. Please see section IV for full details