Connect to Work West Yorkshire - Delivery Partner Application

  • Connect to Work - Delivery Partner Application

    Thank you for taking the time to complete this open and competitive application to be included in the Better Connect delivery partnership for Connect to Work funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Inclusion is not guaranteed and is dependent on your application meeting the minimum standard as well as the Better Connect tender application being successful.

  • Why Partner with Better Connect?

    Better Connect (formally Your Consortium) are a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2007 with an established track record of developing and leading partnership projects. All opportunities engage and work with a wide range of local place-based organisations. Historically we have led large programmes across West Yorkshire, including Leeds City Region Talent Match and West Yorkshire Community Grants. 

    Our main activities include:

    ·       Programme and project design, delivery, and management, specialising in employability provision (including Connect to Work).

    ·        Partnership development and systems leadership

    ·        VCSE capacity building and collaborative sector support

    ·        Strategic representation

    ·        Grant management and funding distribution

    ·        Impact measurement, evaluation, and shared learning

    We achieve this by:

    Partnering with organisations across all sectors, specialising in supporting and strengthening organisations from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. We believe that local place-based organisations with a strong social mission and that work effectively in partnership with others have the biggest impact on communities and the individuals within them. As an important strategic driver and valuable connector, we exist to create these partnerships and unlock local potential.

    Better connecting sectors that support people in communities to thrive in their lives and work. We currently connect Work, Health and Skills provision to provide people with the opportunities they need to make positive sustainable changes in their lives.

    Designing and leading innovative partnership programmes/projects that transform the lives of the people who access them. Better Connect are responsible for all management, delivery and strategic activity including all performance, finance monitoring, evaluation, impact, audit, and marketing. We recognise that in supporting one person to thrive, many more lives are transformed as a result. We call this the Ripple Effect.

    Collecting, measuring and sharing the impact of our model and programmes on individuals, organisations and communities. We believe in sharing good practice, ideas, skills and expertise so that communities and the people within them can thrive. Our model is replicable and scalable with a wealth of evidence that shows how impactful and sustainable positive change can be achieved when knowledge is shared and there is authentic collaboration.

    Our USP: We don't compete with partner organisations for frontline delivery. We believe you are the trusted experts and provide high-quality, much needed support to participants in their communities. As Lead Partner, Better Connect exists to enable this by managing funding, finances, monitoring, and evaluation, and simplifying processes so delivery partners can focus on delivering transformational support. 

    Connect to Work

    Connect to Work will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling ‘Hidden Unemployment’. It will help connect local work, health and skills support. The funding provides a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals and local communities.

    Overarching Programme Requirements

    Connect to Work will primarily help disabled people, people with health conditions and those with more complex barriers to work who are outside the labour market in ‘Hidden Unemployment’ who wish to be in employment, to find a suitable job and sustain work. The programme will also help those in work but are at risk of falling out of the labour market (and who will struggle to get back into work if they were to lose their job) to retain employment.

    Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help tackle economic inactivity by providing a specific for of support targeted at the right people at the right time, based on their individual circumstances. Connect to Work will deliver the evidence-based Supported Employment model ‘place, train and maintain’. 

    Better Connect are applying to lead a partnership of organisations to deliver the IPS element of support across West Yorkshire. IPS integrates employment support alongside primary and secondary health service, and other support services. Connect to Work matches participants to open labour market jobs and opportunities quickly and provides support to the employer, as well as the participants, to ensure that work is sustained.

    Delivery partners will be expected to provide a complete end-to-end service, following all stages of the supported employment model including awareness raising and marketing, vocational profiling, job match, employer engagement, and on and off the job support. Support will be delivered through Employment Specialist roles.

    15% of participants supported will start their journey in-work

    85% of participants supported will start their journey out of work

    Delivery partners may choose one of both of these cohorts to work with. This should be decided based on specialism and who you beleive you are best placed to supprot. 

    All participants must be triaged. The most appropriate support model for the participant should not be predetermined, and delivery partners must work with other service providers and provision to determine the most appropriate support for Participants.  

    Connect to Work will be made available across the entire region either through an established base or outreach.

    All delivery partners must commit to engaging with the IPS Fidelity Assessment scales and will be expected to collect evidence to support that their IPS support shows high fidelity.

    If you are interested in being included in the Connect to Work partnership, please complete the application form associated with this guidance document (via JotForms). Supplementary information including the Partner Declaration Form and Budget information must be submitted using the templates provided. We are unable to progress ANY applications that do not meet all application requirements.

     

  • Organisation Details

    Please complete all fields below. If you are an organisation that is named on Better Connect's Approved Delivery Partner list and your information is up to date, the number of questions you will be required to answer will be reduced as we already hold this information on file.
  • Have you worked with Better Connect before?*
  • Is your organisation included on the Better Connect Approved Delivery Partner list?*
  • Please confirm that your organisational information is up to date*
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  • What is the legal status of your organisation?*
  • What date was your company registered?*
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  • Are you VAT registered?*
  • What sized organisation are you?*
  • Please confirm which district your organisation is based in.*

  • Policies and Assurances

    The questions in this section have been designed to help us assess whether organisations can deliver services safely, legally, consistently, and in line with Connect to Work expectations. We recognise that organisations will have different levels of organisational maturity and infrastructure. We are committed to a proportionate approach to assurance requirements and encourage applications from VCSE and community-based organisations. Where policies are still developing, Better Connect can provide support where required during programme mobilisation.
  • From the list below, please confirm which of the following policies/assurances your organisation has in place. Please select all that apply*
  • Please confirm which insurances you organisation currently holds? Please select all that apply.*
  • Is your organisation registered with the Information Commissioners Office for processing or intending to process personal data?*
  • Is your organisation cyber essentials accredited?*

  • Due Diligence

    This section has been designed to ensure that your organisation is both eligible and suitable to receive Connect to Work funding and deliver the provision.
  • Is your organisation in a state of insolvency, voluntary administration, compulsory winding up and receivership, composition with creditors, company voluntary arrangements  or subject to equivalent proceedings?*
  • Have you or any person who is a member of your administrative management or supervisory body; or has powers of representation, decision or control in the organisation been convicted of any of the following?*
  • In the last 3 years have you*
  • Are there any conflicts of interest you wish to declare?*
  • Have there ever been performance issues relating to previous contracts or grants that you have been awarded?*

  • Organisational Track Record

    This section has been designed to help us understand your track record of delivering employability support. For the scored questions, please ensure you refer to the completion guidance provided by Better Connect - this will inform you of the content and criteria used to score these questions.
  • Are you currently delivering structured employability provision in West Yorkshire?*
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  • How are you predominantly delivering this provision?*
  • Are you currently delivering (or have you delivered in the past) IPS provision?*
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  • Do you have a fidelity rating for IPS delivery?*
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  • Do you consider your organisation to be locally embedded in West Yorkshire Communities?*
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  • Connect to Work delivery

    This section has been to capture what your organisation would like to deliver within this Connect to Work partnership. It will help us to assess your organisations capabilities for delivering Connect to Work. For the scored questions, please ensure you refer to the completion guidance provided by Better Connect - this will inform you of the content and criteria used to score these questions.
  • Please indicate from the list below, which priority groups your organisation will engage through Connect to Work*
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  • If successful, which district(s) will your Connect to Work delivery take place? Please select all that apply*
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  • Will you need to recruit for staff resource to deliver this programme?*
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  • Please confirm that you are able to provide in person Connect to Work support.*
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  • With which sectors do you have strong employer links. Please select all that apply.*
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  • Organisational Compliance

    In order to be included in the Connect to Work partnership, we must be confident that you are able to meet the monitoring requirements as requested by Better Connect, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the DWP. Better Connect will provide you with the tools you need to complete monitoring and will provide information and support where it is required. For the scored questions, please ensure you refer to the completion guidance provided by Better Connect - this will inform you of the content and criteria used to score these questions.
  • Please confirm using the list below that you are able to provide the financial information required to evidence spend on this project. Tick all you are willing to provide*
  • The Connect to Work payment model has not yet been confirmed, please confirm which payment model options are manageable for your organisation. Please select all that apply.*
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  • Declarations and Permissions

    By confirming the statements below, you are providing assurance that your organisation is both eligible and suitable to be considered for delivering IPS provision for Connect to Work West Yorkshire.
  • I can confirm the following statements*
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