Provision of an Older Persons Housing Related Support Service

This advert describes the requirements Bridgend County Borough Council (the Council) has for an Older Person’s housing related support service. There will be one contract encompassing the following three elements of Service delivery to deliver one seamless Service:  Older Person’s Floating Support in the community  Hospital Discharge Support  Support to Extra Care Schemes According to the most recent Census (2021) the population of Wales is estimated to be 3,107,500. When reviewed most recently in mid-2024, this had increased to 3,187,000. This is mainly as a result of positive net international migration, according to Welsh Government research. People aged 65 years or older were estimated to account for just over a fifth of the total population in Wales in mid-2024 (21.7%, or 693,000 people). The number has increased by 13.2% in the last 10 years, since mid-2014. The number of people aged 75 years or older has increased by just under a quarter during the same period (up 23.7%), from around 275,000 people in mid-2014 to around 340,000 people in mid-2024. There have also been some stark societal shifts over recent years. For example, the estimated number of people living alone and in need of support has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Today, people aged 65 and over make up 47% of single person households and may need additional support with housing related matters. This tender exercise seeks to appoint a support Provider who will deliver a Service offering housing related support to the growing population of vulnerable older people aged 55+. The Service provider will be flexible in accepting referrals for those 50+ should demand for the Service arise, and capacity allow. The Service will develop innovative responses to meet the increased demand and to support people in a different way. The Service will help Service Users maintain their independence in the community, including in the county borough’s Sheltered Accommodation schemes as well as in the three Extra Care schemes. Housing related support enables vulnerable people to sustain their tenancy or home and reduces the need for more intensive and costly support at a later stage. It aims to help people maintain their independence and encourages people to settle back into the community. Support will be solution focussed, aimed at resolving issues and preventing crisis. The Service will assist with the vision of the Housing Support Grant that promotes “A Wales where nobody is homeless and everyone has a safe home where they can flourish and live a fulfilled, active and independent life”. Furthermore, it will support the Council in fulfilling its duties under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. These Services will also assist the Council in meeting the aims and objectives set out in the Council’s Homelessness Strategy 2022-2026, as well as the imminent 2026 – 2030 strategy and subsequent Action Plan. The current strategy highlights that homelessness is consistently increasing in the borough, including those who are 55+. There is also an acknowledgment that increased accommodation units and models of support are necessary. The current homelessness strategy highlights the importance of offering a range of Services and accommodation options to meet the needs of all applicants. This contract period will be for 3 years, commencing on 1st January 2027 with the option to extend for up to 24 months. The financial envelope for the contract will be £500,000 per annum.