Direct Payments Advice and Support Service in Somerset

The key activities as part of this service will include providing information visits to people who are considering a Direct Payment, setting-up a Direct Payment, helping with recruitment of Personal Assistants, providing on-going support to DP users, managing the payroll for people who employ their own Personal Assistant and managed accounts. A pilot is currently in progress with the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group to explore the feasibility of delivering joint support for Direct Payments and Personal Health Budgets. SCC is intending to run a procurement process from the autumn of 2015 in order to have a new service in place by April 2016.

Additional information: Direct Payment Advice and Support Service in Somerset. Notice regarding Pre-Tender Webinar 31 July 2015. This is not yet a contract opportunity. Somerset County Council (SCC) is seeking interest from organisations that would like to provide a Direct Payment Advice and Support Service in Somerset. The key activities as part of this service will include providing information visits to people who are considering a Direct Payment, setting-up a Direct Payment, helping with recruitment of Personal Assistants, providing on-going support to DP users, managing the payroll for people who employ their own Personal Assistant and managed accounts. A pilot is currently in progress with the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group to explore the feasibility of delivering joint support for Direct Payments and Personal Health Budgets. SCC is intending to run a procurement process from the autumn of 2015 in order to have a new service in place by April 2016. Following a Supplier Engagement event held in Bridgwater, Somerset on Monday 29 June 2015, SCC as the lead commissioner will hold a Pre-Tender Webinar on Friday 31 July 2015 and is inviting organisations to participate. The event will give details about future service delivery and aspects of the potential procurement process prior to the launch. There will also be a question and answer session. Details from the Supplier Engagement Event can be viewed by visiting www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk and searching for contract number 9WYH-5MV7W2, Direct Payments Advice and Support in Somerset. Organisations that take part will not be advantaged or disadvantaged in any way in any potential future formal procurement. Commercial confidentiality will be respected. This notice does not represent a formal commitment by the Council to undertake a procurement procedure. Event Details Date : Friday 31st July 2015. Time: Between 10:00 am and 12:00am - exact time to be confirmed after registration. It is expected the duration will be 1 hour. Venue: Not applicable - organisations will participate on-line. Registration: To register please submit an Expression of Interest for the Pre-Tender Webinar. If you are unable to join the webinar the presentation and any notes will be available on the above mentioned e-portal. Additional Information Tender Opportunity: When this procurement commences (which it has not done yet) this opportunity and all documentation relating to it will be available on e tender system ProContract hosted via www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk. New users will be required to register onto the system. Clear instructions are given and contact points are available within the portal. This specific opportunity will be published under category (CPV) code 85000000 so it is important that organisations ensure that they have selected this category when registering. Alternatively search via Somerset County Council which will show you all the opportunities available from this authority. It is the Council's opinion that TUPE may apply to staff currently delivering these services. Service delivery will be the geographical area covered by Somerset County Council.