Request for
Quotation
Birmingham
Changing Futures
Together Lead Workers and
Peer Mentors
Evaluation Fieldwork
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Definitions of key terms
BIG
Big Lottery Fund.
Core Group
Birmingham: Changing Futures Together Partnership Core Group is the
cross-sector body responsible for supporting the strategic development
of the Project. They receive regular financial reports, progress updates,
performance metrics, risk analyses and monitoring information, to steer
them in their work as a strategic development group.
Experts by Experience
People who are experiencing or have experienced Multiple Needs
within the last 5 years. Involvement Champions are Experts by
Experience who have committed to take on the role of getting others
involved.
Lead Workers and Peer
A group of highly skilled, empathetic frontline staff who will take
Mentors
personal responsibility for a small caseload of clients , formulating each
client’s care plan and coordinating, reviewing and overseeing a multiagency care and support package. Lead Workers will be supported by
Peer Mentors – trained Experts by Experience who will bring a practical
and beneficial perspective.
Local Evaluation
Data collected locally and analysed in order to inform both national and
local thinking and practice.
Multiple Needs
Defined by BIG as people/a person who are experiencing at least two of
the following issues: Homelessness; Addiction (problematic substance
misuse), the Risk of reoffending; and Mental health issues.
National Evaluation
The evaluation required by BIG through the National Evaluation Team,
CFE, with its partners from the University of Sheffield, Qa Research and
CPEA.
No Wrong Door Network
A network that was established in 2015 that will consist of at least 15
(NWD)
agencies who will sign up to protocols for sharing information and
common quality standards and will commit to not turn away people
with multiple needs (there is no ‘wrong door’).
Project
The activities in Birmingham Changing Futures Together project
(Changing Futures) as funded by the overall Fulfilling Lives: Supporting
People with Multiple Needs programme as funded by BIG.
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1. About this Procurement
BVSC are looking to appoint a consultant to conduct field research into the impact of the Lead Workers
and Peer Mentors (LWPM) strand of the programme. This will involve conducting interviews, facilitating
a focus group, data entry and the creation of a key points summary document. BVSC will provide interview
questions, as well as create a full research report following the fieldwork, so these tasks are not part of
the procurement. The consultant will need to work closely with Shelter to arrange the interviews and the
focus group.
Birmingham Changing Futures Together (Changing Futures) seeks to introduce holistic and integrated
approaches to working with people with multiple complex needs. These two innovations, the Lead Worker
and Peer Mentor roles, are key strands within that endeavour. This research will initiate research
sustained over the lifetime of the programme. Specifically it will capture the impact of Lead Workers and
Peer Mentors since the programme began recruiting in June 2014. This information will feed in to the
annual review in June 2016.
2. Background
The Birmingham Fulfilling Lives: Supporting People with Multiple Needs Core Partnership is overseeing a
£10 million, 8 year Big Lottery funded project aimed at helping people with multiple needs. The project is
called Birmingham: Changing Futures Together (Changing Futures).
The Partnership is led by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) which is responsible for ensuring
the performance of Changing Futures and meeting BIG grant terms and conditions. BVSC ensures that the
project is user-led and informed by a group of Experts by Experience and Involvement Champions.
The purpose of Changing Futures is to improve the lives of adults with multiple needs in Birmingham by
improving both their access to services and the quality of services they receive. The project seeks to help
them to build more fulfilled lives.
Building and sharing the evidence base around multiple needs is also integrated into project delivery with
the aim of influencing improvements to service delivery.
For the purposes of Changing Futures, people with multiple needs are defined as those who are
experiencing three or more of the following issues: Homelessness, Addiction, Risk of Reoffending and
Mental Health problems.
This tender for consultancy support is a discrete piece of work relating to LWPM.
3. Relationship between the Changing Futures Project and LWPM
The LWPM service operates a model of support whereby designated Lead Workers, advised by Peer
Mentors and Experts by Experience, help individuals with complex needs navigate services to find the
right recovery and support package. This service has been procured by BVSC and is delivered by Shelter.
4. Why the LWPM research is needed
Changing Futures has introduced two new support practices to its work with its clients in the city of
Birmingham. These are: Lead Workers (holistic support workers connecting clients in to all relevant
services) and Peer Mentors (bringing lived experience to the interaction between Lead Workers and
clients). To date the impact of these innovations on the progression of people with multiple and complex
needs has not been recorded.
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It is noted that service users may not make the distinction between Lead Workers and Peer Mentors,
often categorising both as their ‘support workers’.
Lead Workers
People seeking services for multiple needs face a confusing array of agencies. Lead Workers are innovative
in working across all these services and offering a person-centred service. They help navigate between
agencies specialising in homelessness, offending, joblessness, health including mental health and
addictions. They support clients to access and attend these services. We do not know yet how effective
the person centred, pan-agency role is. In addition the research may identify issues specific to
Birmingham. Local considerations will provide important supplementary information.
In terms of the specific service provided by Lead Workers and Peer Mentors, Shelter, which manages this
contract, has asked these staff about their working relationship and their dynamics with their clients.
Although these perspectives are subjective, nevertheless they do provide additional comment.
Peer Mentors
It is a widely held view that service user involvement in services at every stage improves their
effectiveness. In Changing Futures, Peer Mentors are one response to this, alongside Experts by
Experience, Involvement Champions and others. Peer Mentors bring lived experience to interactions
between clients and the programme. Half of the Lead Workers are supported by Peer Mentors; half are
not. We want to understand the difference if any that Peer Mentors bring to the effectiveness of Lead
Workers.
Explanation of the two models
The pairing process of Peer Mentors with Lead Workers occurred with all Lead Workers and Peer Mentors
completing a profiling exercise that took into consideration their professional and lived experiences. They
were then matched to enhance and complement their skills ensuring that each worker or working pair
had a sound experience of all four of the issues (Homelessness, Addiction, Risk of Reoffending and Mental
Health problems). The two separate working practices were then broken into two distinct models Half of the lead workers are WITHOUT a peer mentor – MODEL A
Half of the lead workers are WITH a peer mentor – MODEL B
5. Response Required
The consultant(s) will need to complete:
Interviews
o Interviews will be arranged through liaison between the consultant and Shelter. BVSC will provide
the consultant with pre designed questionnaires. The consultant will then be required to enter
the information gained onto an Excel spreadsheet, collate the findings and provide an initial
analysis.
o Interview Data - analysis should include: description of the research process; interviewee profile
and numbers; findings collated against each question; summary key issues identified from the
data. This Word document, along with the Excel spreadsheet will be passed to BVSC
o The primary data and the initial findings will be passed to BVSC.
o BVSC and its sub-contractors will identify and provide access to Lead Workers and Peer Mentors.
There are 3 managers, and 12 Lead Workers, 6 of whom have Peer Mentors working with them.
We expect no fewer than 50% to be interviewed
o In addition, the consultant will interview 5 key staff in non-host service providers within the No
Wrong Door Network. The views of those with whom Lead Workers work (and Peer Mentors
where applicable) will therefore also be included in the study.
Focus Group - Service Users with Lead Workers
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o
o
o
One focus group to address the topics prepared by BVSC. The focus group will include current
clients supported by Lead Workers and Peer Mentors, arranged through Changing Futures. Again,
the consultant will work with Shelter to identify participants suitable for the focus group.
Focus Group Data – the consultant should make a written record of the focus group, and findings
should be recorded on an Excel spreadsheet and include; participant profile and numbers;
findings collated against each topic; summary of key issues identified from the data. This with the
written record of the focus group will be passed to BVSC.
BVSC does not expect a research report as this will be prepared in-house.
Sample Topics/Questions
Please find below some sample questions that will be used for the interviews. A full list of questions will
be supplied by BVSC, however, please feel free to suggest questions and observations that you think
would enhance the insight gained as part of your submission.
(All Lead Workers - Model A and B)
 Do Lead Workers provide a service that is significantly different to services provided by other
support workers? If yes, how?
 Is the Lead Worker role contributing more to client progression? Evidence your reply.
 If you could change one thing in the Lead Worker role (to make it more effective), what would it
be?
Lead Workers with Peer Mentors (Model B only)
 Do you have a good working relationship? What factors have contributed to this?
 Has the lived experience of Peer Mentors made any difference to client progression? Evidence
your reply.
6. Confidentiality and Anonymity – Intellectual Property
Due to the small numbers involved, this research is not anonymous or confidential and BVSC retains
intellectual property rights on all primary data gathered.
The research will be ‘on the record’. Although individuals will not be named in the report, nor comments
attributed to individuals, attribution will be made by role e.g. Expert by Experience, Involvement
Champion, No Wrong Door Partner.
7. Outputs Required
Although a full research report is not necessary, the consultant will be required to present the results of
their work in the Excel spreadsheet mentioned in this document, as well as Word, including an initial
analysis of findings in a summary format. This must be in plain English, so that the key messages are clear.
8. Evaluation Timetable and Fee
The timetable is as follows:
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Event
ITT issued
Deadline for responses
Interviews for shortlisted organisations
Organisations informed of interview results
Start-up meeting
Liaison with Shelter to arrange interviews and focus group
Field research carried out
Data collated and inputted using relevant programme
Draft 1 presented
Data and Summary Final Submission
Deadline
18/12/15
22/01/16
04/02/16
08/02/16
10/02/16
19/02/16
26/02/16
04/03/16
14/03/16
21/03/16
The total budget for the evaluation is a maximum of £2,940 inclusive of VAT and all expenses. BVSC will
provide rooms for the field research to take place, however any locations separate to these will be paid
for by the consultant.
The payment schedule will be 30% on start-up and 70% upon satisfactory completion.
9. Submission of Quotation/Response
Your tender must be submitted via email to Jan Pusiak
Learning and Evaluation Co-ordinator
janp@bvsc.org
Please put ‘QUOTATION FOR LWPM RESEARCH WORK’ in the email subject line.
The deadline for receipt of tenders is Midday 22nd January, 2016.
Interviews will take place on the 4th February so please keep this free. The 30 minute interview will
examine the content of your tender and will be scored on an evidence of capacity to fulfil these tender
requirements whereby 0 equates to no evidence provided and 5 equates to full evidence provided.
The consultant will be required to agree to confidentiality clauses and BVSC’s intellectual ownership of
the research. They must also provide evidence of appropriate insurance.
Written Stage
Please set out your tender response on no more than 4 x A4 pages (excluding CVs).
Documents should include:
 Contact details.
 Your approach to conducting the research, including your engaging well with interviewees and
focus group members to obtain a comprehensive, credible evidence base.
 Any innovative ideas which may add value to the study. Any further questions or points you would
add.
 The names and background, skills and expertise of those who will work on this study. Please
indicate who will work on each task.
 Details of a previous similar assignment and the email and phone number of its
commissioner/funder who we can approach for a reference.
 A breakdown of budget where applicable as well as your day rate.
 Accounts for the previous two years.
 Health and safety policy, equal opportunity policy and insurance documentation will need to be
presented prior to the contract being awarded.
 CVs may be attached (maximum 2 pages).
Interview Stage
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You will need to demonstrate:
 A sound track record of researching and recording responses.
 Experience of undertaking studies involving different stakeholders.
 Experience of securing the views of service users, possibly using innovative approaches.
 An understanding of the barriers and lifestyle issues experienced by people with Multiple Needs;
some knowledge of support systems relating to offending, homelessness and mental health
would be advantageous.
 The ability to manage and deliver all aspects of the research on time, to quality and on budget.
 Evidence of the ability to produce key findings reports.
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