Scope
Reference
ASC25078
Description
*This advert is for market awareness, engagement and request for information only*
Direct payments are intended to give individuals greater choice and flexibility to arrange and manage their care and support needs, through the receipt of regular funds from the Local Authority. For some people, choosing a Direct Payment may not be an option without support.
The Council has engaged with Personal Assistants (PA's), Social Workers, Providers and Service Users. Key findings from this engagement included:
• The need for an advertising platform/local support office for support providers including PA's (employed and self-employed) and micro enterprises.
• Social Workers also told us that an advertising or brokerage platform, which helped to source PA's, would be useful for the people they support
• Direct payment recipients identified barriers such as having a physical office that they could visit, or someone with local knowledge of what services are available to them
• To have two distinct contracts, one that concentrates on financial elements and one that concentrates on the support element.
It is therefore proposed that the service will be split into two Lots for two distinct service elements:
• Lot 1: Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner - The Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner will deliver strategic support to promote the growth of direct payments across Worcestershire and finding suitable services to meet the needs of direct payment recipients. It is anticipated that this Lot will be suitable for VCSE's and SME's within Worcestershire.
• Lot 2: - Direct Payments Finance Partner - The Direct Payment Finance Partner will deliver a financial management service, covering support of the payments, including managed accounts and payroll for personal assistants. The finance partner would also be operating managed accounts on the Councils' behalf.
The Council held a virtual open information and feedback session on Thursday 7th August 2025. Slides and supplementary documentation are available via In-Tend.
Worcestershire County Council would now like to invite interested organisations to further feedback on the proposed Service Specification via an MS Forms survey https://forms.office.com/e/CeMbarQBAA
The specification documents are available via In-Tend.
Your views and feedback will not be used for any part of the tender process and will only be used for the development of the specification.
If you are not already registered with In-tend, you will need to register your organisation to view and apply for any opportunities in Worcestershire. To complete your registration, go to https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home
Total value (estimated)
- £2,053,254 excluding VAT
- £2,463,904.80 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031
- Possible extension to 30 June 2033
- 7 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
22 October 2025
Engagement process description
The Council held a virtual open information and feedback session on Thursday 7th August 2025. Slides and supplementary documentation are available via In-Tend.
Worcestershire County Council would now like to invite interested organisations to further feedback on the proposed Service Specification via an MS Forms survey https://forms.office.com/e/CeMbarQBAA
The specification documents are available via In-Tend.
Your views and feedback will not be used for any part of the tender process and will only be used for the development of the specification.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
24 October 2025
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Worcestershire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRPQ-4584-WLPQ
County Hall, Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
United Kingdom
Region: UKG12 - Worcestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government