Local authorities are required under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to procure an organisation to provide a Local Healthwatch service. The Act also makes provision for Local Authorities to make arrangements for the delivery of an independent complaints advocacy service in relation to their area, for complaints relating to the provision of health services. Both of these services are being re-procured to cover the geographical areas of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.

Lot 1: Local Healthwatch Service. Functions:

1) promoting, and supporting the involvement of local people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local care services;

2) enabling local people to monitor and review the commissioning, decommissioning and provision of local care services;

3) obtaining the views of local people about their needs for, and their experiences of local care services and making those views known. Making reports and recommendations about how local care services could or ought to be improved to those responsible for commissioning, providing, managing or scrutinising those services and to the Healthwatch England committee of the Care Quality Commission;

4) ensure consumers are aware of and able to access good quality information and advice from existing provisions that supports choice and control in accessing services and support;

5) seeking views on the experiences of local people and making those known to the Healthwatch England committee of CQC;

6) making recommendations to the Healthwatch England committee of CQC to advise CQC about special reviews or investigations to conduct (where the circumstances justify doing so making such recommendations direct to CQC);

7) making recommendations to the Healthwatch England committee of CQC to publish reports under Section 45(3) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 about particular matters;

8) giving to the Healthwatch England committee of CQC such assistance as it may require enabling it to carry out its functions effectively, efficiently and economically.

Lot 2: Independent Complaints Advocacy (NHS Services). The service will ensure that independent advocacy skills are used to provide practical support and direction to people, to assist them in finding a resolution to their complaint, about NHS services in the local authority areas of Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset. The service must be fully compliant with all relevant regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.