NECS490 Refugee Supported Employment Service

North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is working for and on behalf of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) (the Contracting Authority), who are conducting a Request for Information (RFI) exercise in order to gain a better understanding of the capacity and appetite of the market to deliver a supported employment programme assisting local refugee communities to reach work readiness. Multiple pipelines are needed to ensure that the health and social care workforce can meet growing demand. The North East and North Cumbria benefits from rich diversity and we are committed to ensuring the system workforce is more representative of the communities it serves. A diverse workforce provides an opportunity to enhance the experience of residents and people from these communities who are receiving health and social care services and contributes to the ongoing cultural awareness and development of fellow members of the workforce. Given that the region has a workforce shortage and that there is a humanitarian need to support refugees there is an opportunity to engage with and, where required, offer support to local people arriving in communities as refugees who may be interested in careers in health and social care. The Contracting Authority would like to work with an organisation experienced in providing supported employment and working with refugees, that will work with communities, signpost to appropriate training and have an awareness for developing the necessary entry level skills. This service will be across Health and Social Care, employers and communities within the North East and North Cumbria region.

It is important to note that this PIN/RFI is not a call for competition and as such potential providers will need to express an interest in any future quote opportunity once a contract notice is published on Contracts Finder. It should be noted that this PIN/RFI invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in this RFI exercise only, and it is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process. This PIN/RFI is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the RFI process nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who express an interest.

NECS is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this RFI exercise and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NECS, including RFI submissions, will be conducted via Atamis: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

The RFI documentation will be available on the e-tendering site on Friday 21 July 2023 and completed RFI responses must be submitted by 5pm Friday 04 August 2023.

Additional information: NECS is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this RFI exercise and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NECS, including RFI submissions, will be conducted via Atamis: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

If you have already registered on the system (e.g. to access contracts with another Health Family organisation) then there is no need to re-register. If you have not already done so you should now register as a Supplier on the shared system by selecting the link above.

It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. If you find that you need any advice or support in registering please contact the Atamis helpdesk using the following details:

Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: [email protected] Opening times 8am - 6pm

An Atamis Supplier guide can be accessed by clicking on the link above. PLEASE NOTE: You may be asked if you wish to merge your account with an existing organisation. This is based on a number of criteria including the domain name of your email address, so please ensure that you do register with your official work email address.

Following review of returned RFI responses, the Contracting Authority may wish to seek further clarifications by conducting a Market Engagement event. Providers will be made aware of the event via Atamis.

The RFI documentation will be available on the e-tendering site on Friday 21 July 2023 and completed RFI responses must be submitted by 5pm Friday 04 August 2023.