Advocacy Services for Children, Young People & Adults

Plymouth City Council is seeking to commission a single integrated Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for the residents of Plymouth, bringing together a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy functions for adults, children, young people and families within one cohesive model of delivery. The proposed integrated service is expected to include a range of functions, including: Adult Advocacy Services, such as Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Health and Social Care Complaints Advocacy, Court of Protection Representation and associated advocacy functions. Children, Young People and Family Services, including advocacy for eligible children and young people, Independent Visitor Services, parental advocacy, and support linked to Plymouth's Families First Partnership Programme. For further information please see Supplying The South West Portal and search for Procurement opportunity DN834021. For advocacy and Independent Visiting services for children and young people in Plymouth, this includes those involved with children's social care services, children in need, children subject to child protection processes, looked after children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, care leavers, children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), young carers, young people in residential settings, young people in secure environments, those accessing health services who wish to make complaints, and young people who may require continued support during transition to adulthood. Also, providing advocacy for 16-17 young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. For adults, the service will provide both statutory and non-statutory advocacy. Non-statutory advocacy supports adults and young people transitioning to adult social care who require assistance with social care, health and wellbeing matters. Statutory advocacy responsibilities include NHS Complaints Advocacy; Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) representation under the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) under the Mental Health Act 1983; and advocacy duties arising from the Care Act 2014, including support for individuals who experience substantial difficulty in participating in assessment, care planning or safeguarding processes and have no appropriate person to represent them. Also, providing advocacy for parents navigating children's social care and child protection processes. For advocacy and Independent Visiting services for children and young people placed outside of Plymouth, this includes those involved with children's social care services, children in need, children subject to child protection processes, looked after children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, care leavers, children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), young people in residential settings, young people in secure environments, those accessing health services who wish to make complaints, and young people who may require continued support during transition to adulthood.