Social Care and Health Living Well Challenge – Domiciliary Care

Supporting our citizens within Wales to live healthier and happier lives

Scope 

Social Care & Health continues to face increasing demands and new challenges – an ageing population, lifestyle changes, public expectations and new and emerging technologies, all within the setting of continued budget constraints. The Healthier Wales plan sets out a broad ambition that everyone in Wales should have longer healthier and happier lives, able to remain active and independent, in their own homes, for as long as possible, however bold new approaches will be required to achieve this vision.

We are not alone in this challenge – many developed health and care systems face similar challenges to those being experienced in Wales, and whilst there are examples of promising models of innovative care, further evidence and confidence is required to move beyond pilots and small-scale trials.

This challenge seeks to build upon previous trials/small-scale testing, capturing the evidence and analysis required to inform the future sustainability of domiciliary care in Wales. Successful applicants will be expected to deliver wider demonstration and/or scale and spread projects which can evidence the potential benefits and sustainability of their solutions, whether that be innovative models of care delivery or complimentary technologies which can support the integration and sustainability aspirations set out in A Healthier Wales; and keeping ‘what matters’ to our citizens at the heart of everything we do.

Challenge Theme

We are seeking to identify and support the delivery of Phase 2 & Phase 3 collaborative projects, that can demonstrate the potential and scalability of near-market solutions and/or previously researched models of care, enabling the development of core evidence & case studies to inform future business cases & wider roll-out.

Domiciliary Care – new models of service & complimentary solutions/ technology that can support the sustainability of care with a focus on prevention and person-centred care. New models of care must be co-designed and co-developed with the public and users of care alongside front-line health and social care professionals, underpinned by the design concepts set out in the Wellbeing for Future Generations Act (2015) and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
Supporting the foundations – Seeking solutions that can address underlying barriers such as skills growth, connectivity and recruitment/retention. This includes addressing issues such as digital literacy, accessibility/affordability of complimentary technology, poor signal in rural areas & internet “not-spots” and wider issues that may be impacting upon recruitment, such as access to affordable housing, shared living opportunities, and transport barriers.

The key focus will be on demonstrating sustainability of service, affordability and scalability of solutions that can be delivered at pace. We are looking to test emerging / near-to market innovations via real-world trials and are not seeking feasibility/research pieces. However, we are seeking rigorous evaluations to creating an evidence base for further development and scale-up, with a core focus on the accessibility and affordability to the end user, ideally free at point of use to prevent inequalities of access and acknowledging the budget pressures that service providers continue to face.

If project applications are seeking to build upon previous trials/small-scale testing, applications must clearly articulate how this funding will help accelerate more wide-spread development, outlining any previous adoption barriers and demonstrating how these will be addressed – underpinned by a clear articulation of a place-based approach.

All projects must include a named Welsh potential end customer/collaborator, i.e., local authority, health and/or third sector organisation, who has committed to involvement in the project to represent views of and provide feedback on the development from an end user perspective. This end customer can be included as a subcontractor in the project application, with costs included for this role, and projects can include multiple end customers/ subcontractors however, the involvement and role of each organisation should be clearly specified, and the commitment evidenced, ideally with named individuals included. Multi-sector applications will be welcomed – in particular, applications that demonstrate & support and integrated approach with LA, Health & Third Sector partners. An online marketplace will be available on the Simply Do platform to help support the development of collaborative relationships ahead of application submission.

Challenge applications must clearly detail how they will engage and involve potential service users throughout project delivery to ensure any solution and/or service is designed with and for the people it is intended to benefit. All projects should be delivered through a cocreation approach, enabling service recipients and their families), unpaid carers, social care, health & third sector colleagues to be part of the prototyping & testing process, learning vital skills & ensuring solutions are grounded in the reality of how systems work & supporting the future transition to digitally supported delivery. A co-created, agile and iterative approach is vital to demonstrate feedback and ideas from end users are listened to and incorporated.

All projects should include a skills builder element to ensure that those involved in delivering the service and/or using the solutions are being equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to support optimum use and addressing underlying skills/ capability gaps. Specific milestones should be included to reflect this.

All project leads will be expected to participate in a community of practice to ensure that we are optimising the potential for collaboration and knowledge transfer across Wales – this also includes representation/attendance from future end customer(s) and subcontractors. This will also provide the opportunity to ensure effective coordination of projects is maintained and that shared barriers/issues can be addressed collectively.

How can solutions address the challenges?

Innovative solutions could: –

Demonstrate the viability, scalability and affordability of new methods of service delivery and/or commissioning
Accelerate the adoption of emerging digital and smart technology to support the wellbeing of people of all ages within their communities;
Develop a place-based solution, showing an awareness of existing strengths within communities and outlining how the project will build upon those strengths;
Encourage long term behavioural change, enabling people to play an active role in their own wellbeing
Support equality of access to services, both in terms of price point/affordability, connectivity and language preferences

Out of Scope 

We are not looking to fund projects which:

Does not have at least one public and/or third sector end user/collaborator from Wales (evidenced by a signed letter of support for each collaborator).
Are purely focussed on feasibility – we are seeking real-world practical demonstration (not academic/research papers)
Do not engage with potential future customers to understand needs
Do not address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed
Do not evidence how a proposal will generate positive economic or societal impact
Do not consider the affordability & practicality of widespread implementation
Cannot meet Welsh language standards or demonstrate potential for multi-lingual functionality.

Funding Allocation & Project Details

This challenge is open to applications that deliver either a Phase 2 or Phase 3 project. Current funding of £1million is available to support up to 5 projects – which may be subject to change, dependent upon the number/quality of submissions received. Outline budget per Phase 2 or Phase 3 project is up to £200,000, subject to budget availability and the scale/ calibre of project submissions received. We reserve the right to consider an increased budget for exceptional applications if the scale of the delivery across Wales warrants it.

Projects will be selected on a portfolio approach to ensure activity and evidence is gathered on a broad demographic basis across Wales.

Phase 2: prototype demonstration and evaluation – This should result in a real-world demonstrator or pilot programme to be developed and tested in conjunction with end users.

Phase 3: Spread and Scale – Supporting broader demonstration of successful near-to market projects across a variety of locations/demographics, providing evidence of the potential for spread and scale across Wales on a place-based approach, considering local assets, existing services and local un-met needs.

Project costs can be claimed for the innovation solution provider and for staffing resource requirements of the future end customer/ subcontractor. This should be specified within the challenge application with clear roles stated – ideally with named individuals for each role.

Your application must:

Demonstrate a clear plan for commercialisation and a route to market for affordable, developed solutions;
Explain the potential positive contribution to the goals of Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act;
Demonstrate how the solutions and/or service meets the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act and supports a person-centred approach;
Consider, and address where necessary, equality, diversity and inclusion aspects across your project, your sector(s) and society;
Address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed;
Work throughout with at least one potential future Welsh end user;
Demonstrate an inclusive approach, considering any additional needs that may prevent end users accessing a technology/service;
Ensure personal safety is paramount and any risks clearly articulated with robust mitigation in place;
Demonstrate the ability to meet Welsh Language standards, and ideally demonstrate the potential for multi-lingual capability to improve accessibility
Include a full evaluation following project completion – this should include a benefits analysis and an economic analysis.

Please note any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be subject of a separate, possible competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution although we may choose to investigate and explore innovative procurement routes as part of this challenge.

The total funding available for the competition can change and the funders reserve the right to adjust the provisional funding allocations, I.e., should additional funding become available.

The funder also reserves the right to apply a ‘portfolio’ approach to ensure funds are allocated across a broad range of strategic and geographic areas. This may mean that a proposal that scores less than yours may be successful. The portfolio can be spread across a range of:

scope areas
project durations
project costs, including demonstrating value for money

Briefing Event

We will be holding two online briefing events whilst the challenge is live for applications. The first briefing event will provide a general overview of the challenge and the second briefing event will be aimed at providing application guidance/advice to third sector & not-for-profit organisations, who may be less familiar with the SBRI process.

To register for the first virtual Briefing Event, to be held on Wednesday 27th September at 11am, please follow the link below:

SBRI Social Care & Health Living Well Challenge – Domiciliary Care – Briefing Event

To register for the third sector/not for profit focussed briefing event, to be held on Wednesday 4^th October at 10am, please follow the link below:

SBRI Social Care & Health Living Well Challenge – Domiciliary Care – Briefing Event for 3rd Sector

Application Process

Directions on how to enter this competition can be found via:

Apply Here for SBRI Social Care & Health Living Well Challenge – Domiciliary Care

KEY DATES

Open date	15^th September 2023
Briefing event 1	27^th September 2023
Briefing event 2	4^th October 2023
Close date	20^th October 2023
Assessment	24^th –26^th October 2023
Shortlist agreed & Suppliers notified	27^th October
Meet and Greet with Suppliers’	6th November 2023
Decision Release	8^th November 2023
Phase 2/3 contracts awarded	10^th November 2023
Projects Commence	20^th November 2023
Projects Complete	29^th November 2024
Final Report Submission Deadline	11^th December 2024

*All dates may be subject to change

Who can apply

The lead organisation may be based outside of Wales, but justification must be made in your application as to why the project could not be led by an organisation from Wales. If the lead organisation is based outside of Wales, you must collaborate with an organisation in Wales.

To lead a project your organisation must:

be a UK registered business of any size, community interest company (CIC) or not for profit
be based in Wales or collaborate with at least one UK registered business, research organisation, public sector organisation or charity, in Wales
carry out the project work in Wales

Under current restrictions, this competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian and Belarusian entity as lead, partner or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian and Belarusian source.

Appendix 1 – Policy Context

The ‘Wellbeing for Future Generations Act (2015)’ aims to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. The Act sets out seven goals which represent the long-term vision for Wales. Public bodies now need to think more about the long-t erm, work better with people and communities and each other, look to prevent problems and take a more joined-up approach. Public bodies must operate in a way that ensures that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Public bodies are required to ensure that when making decisions they consider the impact they could have on people living their lives in Wales in the future.

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act came into force on 6 April 2016.

The Act provides the legal framework for improving the well-being of people who need care and support, and carers who need support, and for transforming social services in Wales.

The Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020 came into force on 1st April 2023, and work continues its implementation. The act aims to:

strengthen the existing Duty of Quality on NHS bodies extending this to the Welsh ministers in relation to their health service functions
establish an organisational Duty of Candour on providers of NHS services, requiring them to be open and honest with patients and service users when they come to harm during their care
strengthen the voice of citizens, by replacing Community Health Councils with a new all-Wales Citizen Voice Body (known as Llais) that will represent the interests of people across health and social care
enable the appointment of Vice Chairs for NHS Trusts, bringing them into line with the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020

A Healthier Wales (gov.wales) sets out the Welsh Government’s plan for Health and Social Care. This plan sets out a long-term future vision of a ‘whole system approach to health and social care’, which is focussed on health and wellbeing, and on preventing illness.

This competition has ended.