Early Engagement and Soft Market Testing for the provision of Day Opportunity, Employment and Volunteering Services for People with Lifelong Disabilities and Autistic People.

WSCC are inviting views from specialist organisations as part of a soft market testing exercise in relation to Day Opportunity, Employment and Volunteering Services in West Sussex.

Providers are asked to provide feedback on the points below and to confirm whether this would be of commercial interest to them.

WSCC is anticipating that a procurement process will be undertaken at the end of the calendar year 2023, with a view to new arrangements commencing on 1st July 2024.

The services provided will be co-designed community based interventions that raise aspiration, encourage independence and healthy active lives.

They will also identify and recognise carers, include them when appropriate and signpost for support if required.

The offer is to include, but not be limited to: • A Single Point of Access (In person, telephone, email, website, social media) for Day Opportunities in each District /Borough area. • Information on what is available in the local area with guidance and short-term support when needed to connect with mainstream community-based activities. • Specialist , community-based services for people with higher support needs • Skills development and progression to greater independence e.g. travel training • Assertiveness training • Evening and weekend interventions. • Personalisation • An inclusive approach • A culturally sensitive approach • Developing peer support networks to reduce reliance on formal support • A county-wide service (Telephone, email, website, social media) for Supported Employment/Volunteering delivered in community hubs • On-line support sessions.

Development of IT skills.

On-line tools etc. • Increasing employability (Job seeking, work placements, voluntary work, CV Writing/Planning for interviews) • Tracking people's outcomes, progress towards more independence and KPI's • Engagement with local businesses and employers • Job/volunteering retention This piece of market testing aims to get Provider's views on the potential for other models of delivery to compliment the above range of interventions in order to best meet the following outcomes: People are: • Stimulated and challenged • Safe and confident (supported and safeguarded • Learning new skills and increasing independence • Connected to their community (less isolated) Please can you respond to the questions listed below by latest, 12pm on Thursday 24th August 2023.

Please submit your completed document via email to mark.greening@westsussex.gov.uk.