II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
KCC wishes to engage the market to discuss a potential future procurement exercise to appoint a suitable provider to deliver Direct Payment Support Services to Children and Young People that our under our care.
The date of these event(s) are yet to be scheduled, but we ask that interested providers please register their interest, so that they may be invited to these event(s)
When/if appointed the successful provider will be required to provide a range of services that support the Council's business objective of empowering Service Users to be in control of the support that they receive. This may include (but is not limited to) : -
• Following referral, the setting up and maintenance of direct payments for the purchase of social care and education services, in partnership with the Council.
• Working in partnership with Integrated Commissioning Board to support a joined-up approach to social care, education, and health direct payments.
• Supporting the Kent Card process in partnership with the Council, including the monitoring of financial statements online.
• Transfer of the direct payment support for service users to the Council’s Adult Direct Payment Support Service where appropriate as decided by the Council’s Care Manager.
• Entry of data on the Council’s MOSAIC/LPS database following training provided by the
Council.
• Working in partnership with service user third parties and nominated persons.
• Supporting Service Users to manage a direct payment and pay for services.
• Monitoring the use of direct payments, ensuring that monies are appropriately spent.
• Identifying unspent and unused or misused direct payments.
• Recommending the amount of unspent and unused or misused money to be reclaimed by the Council.
• Where appropriate, supporting Service Users to be a good employer and if required support at industrial tribunal hearings.
• Helping to keep service users safe by ensuring that all personal assistants have a current DBS check at the enhanced level.
• Setting up and maintaining a website, or access to web pages, that describes the service.
• Managing the transition of direct payments when Service Users go from childhood into adulthood.
• Maintain systems to ensure that all over payments and/or any potentially fraudulent use of Direct Payments are followed up by both the Provider and the Council and ensure that if there is an overpayment all due checks are made with the Council that it is being dealt with.
• Ensuring that all Direct Payment agreements have a written and fully completed agreement prior to commencement of the service and when any changes are made.
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
If we successfully appoint a supplier following a full procurement exercise, it is intended that the contract length will be an initial 3 year period, with option of 2 further 1 year extensions.