Wisbech Homelessness Service

**Please note the EOI window for this opportunity is now closed** The purpose of this advert is to alert the market to a potential contract opportunity to support homeless people in Wisbech and to invite expressions of interest from potential providers. Cambridgeshire County Council anticipate that the contract will start on the 1st April 2016 and that the initial contract period will be 4 years, with a further optional 2 year extension. The estimated total value of the contract over 6 years is £1,215,000.

Potential providers need to be aware of the minimum requirements for the service that are set out below.

The service must include the provision of a total of 36 beds in Wisbech town. Each bed must be in a single room with ensuite facilities and there must be access to kitchen facilities. Note that the current accommodation will not be available for transfer to a new provider. It is preferable that potential providers have suitable accommodation available for occupation by the 1st April 2016.

The breakdown of the 36 beds is: 1) At least 24 beds for homeless people where their needs can be assessed and they can be supported by staff; 2) Provision of supported accommodation for at least 12 people who have been through assessment and can be moved on as a way of encouraging independence and helping them to transition into independent accommodation; 3) 8 beds are required for offenders. These will be split equally (4 each) between the two service elements described above; 4) 3 of the 12 move on beds will be designated for people with mental health issues.

The aim of the service is to provide support to people who are homeless to establish a more stable lifestyle and enable them to learn coping skills in order to gain settled accommodation. The service will support the aims set out in the Care Act 2014 and the Cambridgeshire County Council 'Transforming Lives Strategy'.

Those eligible for the service are aged 18 and over, homeless (may have a history of sleeping rough) and are likely to have a history of drug and alcohol problems, mental health issues, poor physical health and a history of offending.

The service must operate 24 hours a day for 7 days per week. The provider will be expected to provide additional support to service users including provision of crisis support where there are problems that pose an immediate risk, for example harassment or loss of amenities.

Additional information: Potential providers should read the attached document and complete the questionnaire, returning it to [email protected] by the 18th September 2015. Following receipt of expressions of interest, a decision will be made internally about the best approach to procurement. If the Council decides to take the contract opportunity out to market, a separate Contract Notice will be published in October 2015.