Better Care Fund VCSE Integrated Wellbeing Pathways SC, HI &

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) are seeking providers within the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to deliver the Better Care Fund (BCF) funded VCSE Integrated Wellbeing Pathways service for adults aged 18+. Following engagement and co-design work with VCSE organisations and health and care partners, we are developing a more integrated model that helps people stay independent, improves wellbeing, prevents avoidable hospital admissions, supports safe hospital discharge, reduces the need for long-term care, and strengthens the development of community and neighbourhood-based support. The proposed contract term will be 3 years, with the option to extend for a further two periods of 1 year (3+1+1). The estimated annual contract value is up to £557,282.00 with a maximum potential contract value of £2,786,410.00 over the full contract term. The service will be delivered through two lots:

Lot 1: Community Support and Development

Annual Value: Approximately £285,282.00

This lot focuses on community-based responsive, preventative, and development of community support.

Providers will be expected to:

• Deliver community navigation, signposting and wellbeing support.
• Support socially isolated, vulnerable and at-risk residents.
• Connect individuals into voluntary, community and statutory services.
• Identify emerging unmet need within communities.
• Develop community capacity and neighbourhood-based solutions with local partners.
• Deliver flexible and innovative responses to local demand.
• Operate a responsive seven-day service model.

Lot 2: Integrated Hospital Discharge and Neighbourhood Development Pathway

Annual Value: Approximately £272,000.00

This lot focuses on supporting safe and timely discharge from hospital settings and helping to prevent avoidable readmissions.

Providers will be expected to:

• Work alongside hospital, community, social care and primary care teams.
• Support patient identification and discharge planning.
• Deliver rapid onward referral, signposting and connection into relevant support.
• Operate a responsive seven-day service model.
• Identify gaps in provision, through working with partners and support community development activity

What the service will deliver Across both lots, providers will support people to:

• Maintain independence for longer.
• Improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
• Avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions.
• Access safe and timely discharge support.
• Delay or prevent the need for long-term care.
• Build stronger community connections and support networks.

Support may include practical and emotional assistance, volunteer-led support, short-term interventions (typically up to six weeks), and connection into wider community and statutory services. Providers will need strong links with local communities and referral partners, experience of collaborative working, and the ability to share outcomes and performance information. Successful providers for Lots 1 and 2 will be expected to work together to create a seamless pathway for residents. Recognising the expertise of providers, outcomes within the framework, performance measures and key performance indicators will be developed collaboratively during mobilisation with commissioners and system partners to ensure measures are meaningful, outcome-focused and reflect local priorities. The procurement opportunity is expected to be published in Early October 2026. We welcome submissions from individual organisations as well as from partnerships, consortia, or lead provider/subcontractor arrangements.