Direct Payment Support Services Market Engagement Events

In preparation for a proposed forthcoming procurement opportunity to provide support to people to manage a direct payment, Essex County Council ("the Council") would like to invite organisations to participate in a market engagement event. The Council is likely to commission the following support for a direct payment support service (DPSS): • Employment Advice and Guidance • Account management • Payroll • Information and advice in relation to direct payments The council may also look to source: • Brokerage to source support • Digital solution to manage a direct payment • Support to recruit, train, retain and manage Personal Assistants The Council may look to engage with more than one provider to provide all or parts of these services in order to create choice for people who will access the services. The Council may structure the corresponding procurement opportunity so that a number of providers will deliver all the core aspects of the service. However, the Council reserves the right to refine the scope of this procurement following the market engagement events for this project. The final scope of the procurement including the use of lots will be published in the corresponding Contract Notice prior to the formal launch of this procurement opportunity. Prospective providers are invited to attend the initial market engagement session for this project which is scheduled to take place on Monday 13th September 2021 between 14:00 and 15:30 and will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. During this event, the Council will present an overview of the co-production findings and their draft commissioning intentions and vision for the Direct payment support offer in Essex. If required, there will also be opportunities to book 15 minute individual slots to talk to the commissioners about the service. To reserve a space at this event please e-mail: Deborah.kirk2@essex.gov.uk by 17:00 on Thursday 9th September 2021. Prospective providers are advised that this event is intended to form the initial market engagement session in relation to this project and the Council will publish details of any future sessions via separate notices in due course.