Service User Involvement Project proposal invite

Service User Involvement Project proposal invite

London Borough of Brent Service User Involvement Project / London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Service User Involvement Project

Please note, deadline extended to midday (12.00) on Tuesday, 1st April

Issue Date:   10th March 2008
Contract Period: Up to one year  

Introduction

The Supporting People and DAAT services in the London Boroughs of Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham invite proposals from specialists in service user involvement to deliver projects which develop and embed a culture of service user involvement in the two boroughs.

The Supporting People programmes in the London boroughs of Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham are committed to ensuring our services are designed around the needs and aspirations of the people that use them. The Service User Involvement projects will formalise existing links with service users and increase the number and range of people engaged with the programme.

This project outline has been jointly developed by Brent SP team (in partnership with Brent Drug and Alcohol Team) and Hammersmith and Fulham SP services in order to allow interested parties to explore ways of integrating the work. The current intention is for two distinct projects to be undertaken, one in each borough, certain aspects of which (e.g. training days) could be executed jointly across the two boroughs. 

Objectives 

The inclusion of service users in all stages of the commissioning, procuring, monitoring and reviewing of services is central to the work and mission of Supporting People. The projects will increase awareness of the Supporting People programme’s work among the people who access our services, facilitate the development of strong links with them, and enable them to participate in a confident and meaningful way. 

Each project should design and implement a framework for structured, consistent service user engagement that is embedded within Supporting People governance, commissioning and procurement activity.

The service users involved will gain an increased sense of autonomy and empowerment, and those who engage with training opportunities will gain a variety of transferable skills. 

Project Details

Each project will include (but is not restricted to) the following core tasks:

Action

1. Agree comprehensive project plan, including milestones, deadlines and costs.
2. Provide a ‘point of contact’ for each borough to support engaged Service Users,and provide a link between the borough, service providers and users. 
3. Design and establish service user reference group. Will involve recruiting attendees, defining appropriate management, initiating staff and stakeholder involvement, and links with official SP governance bodies (Core Strategy Group and Commissioning Body, and DAAT in Brent) 
4. Identify and engage a wider group of service users to be involved in one or more aspects of the SP programme (e.g. ad hoc project groups, client group specific fora, or planning/hosting events) and establish mechanisms to manage this group.
5. Establish contact and appropriate involvement level with existing local groups and fora
6. Recruitment and training (or arrangement of training through partnership with local organisations) for service users e.g. to attend/chair meetings, conduct peer interviews, or carry out mystery shopping, editing newsletters or contributing to website content. Define ongoing role(s) in SP routine activity (e.g. in service reviews, contract monitoring meeting).
7. Communications – recognising the diverse communication needs of service users:
   - Design and establish a service user newsletter, bulletin or similar regular publication based on consultation with and involvement of service users.
   - Implement ongoing management of the above with a particular focus on maximising the role of service users and moving toward service user management, editorial etc
8. Develop a protocol for commissioning consultation of service users and attain sign-up from relevant stakeholders
9. Consider and recommend appropriate methods for supporting service users once recruited
10. Develop a framework for future development and expansion of Service User involvement activity     

Activities three to seven will be an ongoing part of commissioning and procurement work. They will therefore be designed to work with relevant local and regional frameworks and policies and be embedded within SP processes prior to project completion.

Outcomes

• Service design is based on service user need and aspirations
• Service users have the skills and confidence necessary for their level of involvement 
• The systems and processes through which service users are engaged are clearly defined and effective
• Developing, maintaining and utilising these systems is integrated into ongoing commissioning and procurement work       

Proposals

Proposals should detail how you intend to meet the objectives outlined above, setting out: 

• Your understanding of the Supporting People programme overall and key local issues
  An overview of the likely training requirements to enable meaningful participation by service users (including ‘hard to reach’ groups).
  Your knowledge and experience of engaging minority and diverse groups, including those with limited knowledge of the English language 
  Your understanding of service user involvement
  Whether and where opportunities exist to combine work across the boroughs
  Timescales and full pricing schedules for the projects
  Relevant experience, skills, and particular local knowledge
  Details of two referees, at least one of whom has worked with you on a similar project      

Proposals should not exceed 1,200 words in length. 

Anticipated Timeframe

Exact details of the timeframe are subject to the detail of the project plan agreed with the consulting parties. The council anticipates that the initial phase of the project will take up to three months and will be relatively time-intensive. The second phase is likely to be less intensive. The total duration of the project will not exceed one year.
In order to facilitate embedding of these projects into ongoing work, we anticipate that the contracted party will be based at the relevant team’s offices at least one day per week. 

Please note, deadline extended to midday (12.00) on Tuesday, 1st April
Proposals should be submitted via email to leila.reid@lbhf.gov.uk

Additional Information

Additional information can be obtained from Rachel Soni at Hammersmith and Fulham rachel.soni@lbhf.gov.uk  and Helen Duckworth at Brent helen.duckworth@brent.org.uk  

This is a working document intended to give an indication of the work that will be required; we welcome further thoughts and ideas. A final brief will be agreed with contracted parties in due course.