Newcastle City Council is seeking to appoint an organisation to provide a Direct Payment Support Service to adults, children and carers who use, or are considering using, direct payments to purchase or arrange services. Direct payments can be used to purchase care and support service to meet the care and support needs of the person and carer. Direct payments do involve additional complexity and responsibility for the service user and therefore many need some support and/or advice. The Direct Payment Support Service Newcastle City Council are procuring will: -Information and Advice Explain the benefits and responsibilities of direct payments to Service Users Assist with budgeting and expenditure decisions Provide information about the range of services that provide payroll, insurance and pensions and signpost direct payment users. -Employment Support Provide advice on becoming an employer Support payroll, tax, insurance and pensions Supply employment templates Assist recruitment and selection of Personal Assistants Operate a matching service where appropriate Assist with all aspects of pension auto-enrolment Promote safer employment by encouraging and facilitating the completion of enhanced DBS -Safeguarding and Compliance Promote safe recruitment Support DBS applications Attend safeguarding meetings when required Report and escalate risks to vulnerable adults, children and public funds. -Workforce Development Advise on training for Direct Payment users and Personal Assistants Promote professional development and competency frameworks -Other requirements Provide advice and practical assistance on request to social care professionals when needed Have a permanent base within Newcastle Expected usage: 487 adults are currently receiving a direct payment in Newcastle In the financial year 25/26 there were 315 people who used the service

Procurement Act 2023

Newcastle City Council will be holding an engagement event virtually on Microsoft Teams on the 19th of October from 10:00am to 12:00pm. The event will be led by key representatives from across the Council and it is envisaged all those in attendance will have the opportunity to learn more about, and provide feedback on the service requirements. We would anticipate the event will run as follows: 1. 10.00 to 10.10 - Introductions NCC 2. 10.10 to 10.20- Purpose of the consultation • What we currently commission and why • Utilisation 3. 10.20 to 10:40 Feedback • From people who have used the service • Social workers • CQC 4. 10.40 to 10:50 Our ideas for future scope of the service • What’s different 5. 10:50-11:00 Break 6. 11:00-11:30 Opportunity to feedback on the model 7. 11:30-11:45 Pre-procurement tender readiness • Using Open • Tender documents 8. 11:45-11:55 Indicative timeline 9. 11:55-12:00 A.O.B Please note- • We will be recording the sessions • We do not wish to engage extensively with suppliers prior to this event on clarifications or questions. This is a Market Engagement and we do appreciate a degree of interpretation and flexibility will be applied. Please register to join the event here: https://msteams.link/4RPT