Specialist Information, Advice & Support Service for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

The Service will support Cumbria County Council to achieve its vision as identified in The Council Plan 2018 - 2022: "A Council that works with residents, businesses, communities and other organisations to deliver the best services possible within the available resources." The three outcomes the Council wants for the people of Cumbria are: - people in Cumbria are healthy and safe; - places in Cumbria are well connected and thriving; - the economy in Cumbria is growing and benefits everyone.

The aim of the Service is to ensure the provision of high quality, safe, best practise, and value for money Services that meet the quality outcomes and safeguarding responsibilities of the Council.

For our users of services this means that they are supported to: a) live independently within their community; b) improve and maintain health and wellbeing; c) exercise maximum choice and control over their own life and where appropriate the lives of their family members; d) sustain a family unit which avoids children and adults being required to take on inappropriate caring roles; e) participate as active and equal citizens, both economically and socially; f) have the best quality of life and wellbeing, irrespective of illness or disability; g) delay and reduce the need for care and support; and h) retain maximum dignity and respect.

The Service will complement existing Council statutory duties delivered under The Care Act 2014, The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and their Carers, ordinarily resident and living in Cumbria.

People may also access the Service who have a dual sensory loss.

The Provider will work in partnership with the Council and will be responsible for the provision of a One Stop Shop, to include a single point of access and outreach, for specialist information advice and support for deaf and hard of hearing people living across Cumbria, and their Carers.

People may also access the Service who have a dual sensory loss.

The One Stop Shop will include, but is not limited to, providing information advice and support as to what is available and how to access this, and self-direct and/or support with referrals to statutory services and non-statutory community based support in line with the Councils statutory obligations.

Outcome based commissioning and contracting aims to shift the emphasis from the services a provider will offer to the outcomes that service will achieve.

The Provider is expected to achieve the outcomes and requirements of the specification and its appendices.

The Council will monitor compliance with the targets.

The Service will be subject to review, change and innovation over the lifetime of the contract.