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The Life Story Network CIC 151 Dale Street Liverpool Merseyside L2 2AH Tel: 0151 237 2669 E-mail: anna@lifestorynetwork.org.uk Web: www.lifestorynetwork.org.uk

Date 5th January 2017.

INVITATION TO TENDER - PHASED ROLL OUT OF TIDE (TOGETHER IN DEMENTIA EVERYDAY) IN LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER CITY REGIONS You are invited to tender to provide research services and support to help the Life Story Network set up and implement a robust evaluation process to monitor and report on the effectiveness and impact of the phased roll out of tide – together in dementia every day across the City Region of Liverpool and Manchester, which has been funded by the Big Lottery. The detailed research services and support are as set out in the Specification contained in Schedule 1. Background to tide Created by carers for carers as a legacy from The Dementia Action Alliance’s Carers’ Call to Action campaign, tide (Together in Dementia Every Day) is a national involvement network for carers and former carers of people with dementia. tide is hosted by the Life Story Network (LSN) in England. Using lived experience, tide enables a diverse range of carers to have a powerful collective voice, which raises awareness of their unique needs and rights, ensuring that these influence practice, policy and research at all levels. A core principle of tide is how we value, respect and support carers and former carers. Working together with carers, tide provides a powerful network to bring them together under a common cause and build a social movement with the power to influence local, regional, national and international policy, aid research and influence the way in which local services and support are designed, commissioned and provided.

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Requirements to submit a tender 1. Your tender must be submitted in accordance with this Invitation to Tender

(ITT) letter, Schedule 1. 2. It is your responsibility to obtain any additional information necessary for the

preparation of your tender, and we will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you during the tendering process.

3. All information supplied by LSN in connection with the Invitation to Tender will be treated as confidential by yourself, except that such information will be made available to all prospective tenderers. If you consider that any of the information included in your proposal is commercially confidential please mark it “confidential”.

4. Tenders must be addressed to Ms Julie Mc Manus, Business Support

Manager, and arrive not later than 12.00 noon on the 20th February 2017. It is the responsibility of all Tenderers to ensure that their tender is delivered on time. LSN will NOT consider tenders received after that time.

5. Please submit your tender by email, in pdf format and with numbered pages, to julie@lifestorynetwork.org.uk by the deadline stated in paragraph 4 above. If you would prefer to send your tender by post the tender deadline stated in paragraph 4 above applies, and please ensure you also email us a copy of your tender in accordance with this paragraph.

6. As part of the tender evaluation process, the LSN will hold interviews to discuss shortlisted bidders’ submissions. Interviews will be held at the LSN office at 151 Dale Street, Liverpool on the 16th March 2017.

7. Enquiries regarding this Invitation to Tender should be addressed to: Anna

Gaughan, Chief Executive, Life Story Network anna@lifestorynetwork.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Anna Gaughan Chief Executive Life Story Network CiC

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THE LIFE STORY NETWORK

PHASED ROLL OUT OF

TIDE -TOGETHER IN DEMENTIA EVERYDAY

IN LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER CITY REGIONS

PROJECT EVALUATION

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INDEX SCHEDULE 1 – SPECIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS

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Schedule 1

A. Specification of Requirements (Ordered Services)

Purpose of the Invitation to Tender

The Life Story Network is seeking to purchase research services and support to help us set up and implement a robust evaluation process to monitor and report on for the effectiveness and impact of the phased roll out of tide – together in dementia every day across the City Region of Liverpool and Manchester, which has been funded by the Big Lottery. The development and implementation of these services will play a critical role in the success of tide.

Background to this Invitation to Tender (ITT)

The Life Story Network (LSN) is a Community Interest Company based in Liverpool that works throughout England. We recognise that in order to improve the lives of people living with dementia, it is also vital to support those family members and friends that provide their care. Each of the Directors of LSN CIC has been a carer of a family member or friend with dementia. This common experience has brought them together to establish a community interest company for the benefit of vulnerable people, especially those living with dementia and their carers. As Directors, we have an established profile within the dementia policy area at all levels. Our Chair was instrumental in establishing the Carers Call to Action, a national campaign hosted within the Dementia Action Alliance that highlighted the unique needs and rights of carers of people with dementia. The campaign, which finished in March 2015, demonstrated the need for carers of people with dementia to: continue to build their confidence and skills; have an individual and collective voice at all levels; recognise their value; and support each other. Given the fixed term of the National Carers Call to Action, an exit strategy was agreed by all partners and it was agreed that LSN would host a new carers’ involvement network and work to secure support to establish it across the UK. LSN set up a carers’ working group in February 2015 to co-produce the vision, mission and values of a new national involvement network for carers of people with dementia and with assistance from a local marketing agency the national involvement network was branded as tide - together in dementia every day. LSN secured initial ‘seed funding’ from the Department of Health (DH) and also negotiated a year’s sponsorship from the Alzheimers Society towards the initial set up costs for tide. More recently LSN was successful in securing funding from the Big Lottery Accelerating Ideas Programme to develop a phased roll out of tide across Liverpool City Region & Manchester City Region. It is anticipated that following the

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success of this initial phase, the supporting infrastructure for tide will be resourced and extended across the other regions in England. We are also working with the Life Changes Trust, the Scottish Government and other key partners to introduce and continue the momentum to grow, develop and sustain tide in Scotland. This is dependent on receiving funding from LCT for this element of the work. tide has been set up to be the voice, friend and future of all unpaid dementia carers nationwide. Through tide, we will ensure that the needs of former and current carers of people with dementia are truly recognised, respected and met by:

Challenging the perceptions of carers of people with dementia in society

Campaigning for better support for carers of people with dementia

Influencing government, legislation and policy

Speaking on behalf of people who can’t speak out for themselves

Providing carers of people with dementia with the tools and confidence to help themselves and others

Educating people, organisations and the public on the important role that carers of people with dementia perform

Connecting carers of people with dementia with each other– a truly unique involvement network.

A core element of the success of tide in the UK will be our carers' development programme. This values and respects the active contribution of carers and former carers to the tide network, but also understands that their primary responsibility is the care of their family member or friend with dementia. Purpose of this ITT

A critical element of the development and roll out of the tide network is to establish a robust evaluation process to determine its effectiveness and impact. This will involve two interrelated aspects – our ongoing self-evaluation process and a commissioned independent evaluation. The outcomes of both processes will be used to refine our approach to the roll out of tide as the project unfolds. Our successful bid to the Big Lottery highlights the following outcomes that will be achieved through this initial roll out of the tide network.

Outcome One: Current and former carers will gain confidence and new skills that will increase their ability to influence positive changes in policy, commissioning and services.

Indicators: Indicator level: Timescale:

Current and former carers will gain confidence and new skills to use their voice

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individually and collectively

Outcome Two: Carers of people with dementia (people with dementia) report feeling less isolated and their health and wellbeing improved as a result of peer support through this project.

Indicators: Indicator level: Timescale:

The number of current and former carers of people with dementia feeling less isolated

Outcome Three: Development of policies, research, education, commissioning and services will be more responsive to carers’ needs by establishing the voice of carers through the ‘tide’ network at a local, regional and national level.

Indicators: Indicator level: Timescale:

Public, private and voluntary sector engaged with ‘tide’

The successful bidder will work with family carers and the Evaluation Project Team to develop and refine indicators and activities that cover each of these three outcomes, and agree realistic timescales for delivery. We expect the evaluation process will involve collecting a range of primary quantitative and qualitative data, which will be triangulated with the emerging literature and will be brought together in an independent evaluation report. Given the longevity of the project, the emerging findings will be reviewed by the Project Advisory Group and will feed into the ongoing design and delivery of the project. In submitting a response to this tender, we would expect the applicants to provide examples of the type and level of indicators they would consider for each of the above outcome areas and the factors that would need to be considered in using any of the proposed indicators. It would also be invaluable to include what tools and measurements would be used to measure these outcomes at individual carers, staff and system levels. Timescales for delivery It is important to recognise that the tide network is already very active both regionally and nationally and consequently, the timescales associated with the evaluation of this planned initial regional roll out will need to take this into account. We envisage that the successful contractor will work with us from April 2017 (exact date to be agreed) and conclude their work no later than end of September 2018.

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Methodology This is to be agreed between LSN, the Big Lottery Team and the appointed researcher(s). It is expected that the successful researchers will support LSN with both elements of the evaluation process. An initial piece of work will be required which will include refining the anticipated outcomes and indicators using the ‘Theory of Change Framework’, including a number of examples of ‘logic modelling’ to clearly explain all the relevant links between theory, inputs, outputs, and particularly direct and indirect outcomes. When submitting your bid, please outline the various qualitative and quantitative approaches you might use to evaluate this project and provide a robust rationale and justification for each, emphasising the relative strengths and weaknesses of using these approaches (see related comments in para 2 p.5). Requirements and Deliverables

The successful applicant will be required to undertake the following tasks.

Advise and work with LSN, tide staff and/or carer volunteers, and the Big Lottery

Team on refining the project outcomes, indicators, activities and outputs using

the ‘Theory of Change Framework’ chain of events / logic planning.

Advise and agree with the LSN, tide staff and/or volunteers, and the Big Lottery

Team the appropriate project methodology and agree final timescales.

Establish a timeline for the overall evaluation programme, including: initial

baseline data collection, length of time for overall tide impact evaluation, data

analysis, discussion, reflecting back the data, report writing, editing and final

submission.

Establish the data collection methods and ensure that the completion of data

collection is explained to all parties involved including LSN, tide staff and/or carer

volunteers, and the Big Lottery Team.

Establish and agree a data analysis plan and the potential challenges and risk

factors to consider in relation to data capture and analysis methods.

Carry out agreed fieldwork and support LSN and tide staff and/or carer

volunteers in any fieldwork that they carry out.

Attend all meetings associated with the project evaluation at which the

researcher(s) is required – these will all be held in either Liverpool or

Manchester.

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Analyse the research findings and present them in ways that are innovative,

engaging and relevant to key stakeholders including: key sponsoring

organisations, policy makers, commissioners, providers and carers of people with

dementia (both current and former).

Create straightforward (Plain English) discussion papers / interim reports/

presentations as requested, so that themes and threads can be explored more

deeply by a wide and varied selection of sponsors, including the Project Advisory

Group.

Produce, in collaboration with LSN / tide and the Big Lottery:

o A final report that is accurate, attractive and authoritative and includes

A lay summary;

An executive summary;

A literature review

Methodology;

Case studies and best practice examples, including carer’s

experiences and the role of the provider / commissioning

organisation / community to ensure parity of the involvement of

carers (as Experts by Experience) with other professionals;

Reflective learning from the initial roll out phase

Conclusions;

Recommendations for further roll out of tide in other regions.

o Results and key points accessible and in video format as well as

paper/online format;

o A slide pack summary for presentation purposes (template will be

provided);

o Reference Manager file or equivalent containing all search results and

highlighting references used;

o Other summary dissemination materials such as infographics for use on

social media.

Liaise with LSN / tide and the Big Lottery on influencing dissemination activities

(articles, conferences and workshops) based on the findings of the final report.

Appointment and Delivery Timescales

Tender issued: 5th January 2017

Submissions by: 12.00 noon on the 20th February 2017

Interviews: 16th March 2017 (Venue will be The Life Story Network Office

Contract Awarded: within 30 days no later than the 16th April

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Period of Contract

The contract is expected to commence in April 2107 and be completed by end of

September 2018. Given the nature of the project, LSN /tide /the Big Lottery Team

reserve the right to have some flexibility with regards to the contract period.

Resource Envelope

The total resource envelope for this evaluation project is £32,000 including VAT.

Key Scoring Criteria

Scoring will take account of the following:

Tendered price - The costs for the delivery of this evaluation broken down to indicate the staffing and how the costs will be allocated to the different tasks and stages of the evaluation. The costs should also include the day rate of all staff involved in the evaluation process and are to be stated as exclusive of VAT. Confirmation of VAT where applicable on items should be highlighted;

Knowledge and understanding of the policy areas- including specifically

dementia (including principles of citizenship, co-production and a rights based

approach), the role of the LSN /tide in this context and experience of working

with people living with dementia and their carers;

Extensive experience of working on projects similar to that being proposed, and

in particular capturing /measuring the social value aspects integral to this

project;

Demonstrating actual and transferable skills and knowledge;

Clarity of the written proposal and ability to present it in an engaging way;

Ability to work under pressure and to deliver to the proposed timeframes.

Further guidance

LSN aims to achieve value for money and so proposals must provide a total firm

price and a full cost breakdown including VAT where applicable.

Please submit:

o Examples of your relevant work;

o Details of two previous clients who can supply references;

o C.V.s for each person who will work on the project.

Tenderers should provide an organisational chart detailing the structure of their

company and where this contract will fit into their overall delivery model.

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Alternatively, if a project evaluation team is being brought together to deliver

this evaluation project, we would expect you to provide a clear structure of the

team, which details the role and remit of each member and an overall Project

Leader, with whom we will liaise for the duration of the project. There must be a

justifiable and clear rationale for the skills and expertise of each member of the

team.

Contract Management

The Contract will encompass the period outlined above unless terminated earlier in

accordance with the Agreement. The start date will be by mutual agreement.

The successful contractor shall agree and sign up to the LSN’s terms and conditions

for service provision.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

All Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) arising out of the performance of the Contract

by the successful bidder (or its employees, agents, or sub-contractors), including any

materials and any future IPRs, are assigned to LSN/tide on creation and will be

owned by LSN.

Payment

LSN will agree payment terms with the successful contractor, which would include

part payment during the work and payment of final amount subject to satisfactory

completion of the work. Invoices will be paid through bank transfer within 30 days

of the date of receipt.

Confidentiality

Bidders shall not undertake (or permit to be undertaken) at any time, whether at

this stage or after conclusion of the Contract, any publicity activity with any section

of the media (including social media) in relation to the Contract other than with the

prior written consent of LSN.

Bid costs and loss of profits

Bidders will bear their own costs and in no circumstances whatsoever will LSN

become liable for any bidding costs, nor will LSN be liable for any loss of profits or

losses suffered or incurred by a Bidder not being awarded one or more contracts

pursuant to this procurement process. LSN will not be liable in the event that the

procurement process is cancelled whatever the reason.

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Data protection and ethics

It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that the proposed methodology

does not contravene the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and that the

work carried out is ethically sound.

Contractors must also agree to abide by any appropriate professional guidelines.