The London Borough of Waltham Forest (“the Authority”) invites Tenders from suitably qualified and experienced organisations for the Contract for The Provision of a Healthwatch Service in the London Borough of Waltham Forest (“the Contract”).

The Contract will commence on 1st April 2022 and shall continue up to and including 31st March 2025 (the “Contract Period”). At the sole discretion of the Authority the Contract Period may be extended in such period or periods as the Authority deems appropriate up to a maximum of two (2) years, providing a possible total Contract Period to midnight on 31st March 2027.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires local authorities with adult social care responsibilities to commission a local Healthwatch.

The successful provider will be required to ensure the local Healthwatch is of benefit to patients, users of services, carers and the public by providing support to get the best out of services, improving outcomes and supporting services to be more responsive to what people want and need. To work with communities to influence commissioners to design and provide better health and social care services.

The local Healthwatch will need to be independent and coordinate and build upon all of the existing mechanisms for engaging users of health and social care services, established by the Authority, the National Health Service (“NHS”) and the networks of user-led organisations. It will also establish relationships that engage communities, patients, service users and carer groups.