WSCC Carers (Countywide) Information, Advice, Assessment and Support Service - Early Engagement

WSCC are inviting views from Specialist Carer Support organisations as part of a soft market testing exercise in relation to a Carers Information, Advice, Assessment and Support Service 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 in Autumn 2023. The services will provide information advice, statutory carers assessments, and support services to an adult carers population of over 73, 000 (Census, 2021). Currently 32,000 carers are registered as such in the county and over 400 new carers are registering with the service every month. Young Carers (under 18 years of age are out of scope). The carer offer is to include, but not be limited to: • A Single Point of Access (Telephone, email, website, social media), Carer registration and re-referral • Carer Statutory Assessments both full and light touch, plus annual reviews • Personal/Budget and Direct Payments • Onward referral to local and national support organisations • A Carer Support Worker Service in local acute and community hospitals • Volunteer management • Carer Equipment Service • Carer peer support groups and social opportunities • Carer coaching/training • Emotional support and Carer Counselling Service • Carer Benefits Service • Carer Contingency planning (Carer Emergency Contact Card Scheme) • Carer Discount Card scheme

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 need to: • Identify carers • Support the wellbeing of carers (Care Act 2014) • Track carers through their caring journey so that they are not lost to 'the system'. • Meet growing demand