Invitation to Tender. For A pilot. Hate Crime Victims Advocate Scheme

Transcription

1 Invitation to Tender For A pilot Hate Crime Victims Advocate Scheme 1

2 Contents 1. Executive summary Timeline Budget The need for a pilot scheme Governance, reporting and evaluation Client group The service Outcomes Essential Criteria Evaluation Process Key Criteria Budget List of Appendices

3 1. Exec utive summa ry In the Mayor s Police and Crime Plan he pledged to work with London s diverse communities to develop a Hate Crime Reduction Strategy for London 2. The strategy, the first of its kind, contains three clear objectives. They are to; Boost confidence and increase the reporting of hate crime; Prevent hate crime and reduce repeat victimisation; and Ensure swift and sure justice for hate crime victims. The Mayor committed to ensuring that victims are at the centre of the strategy. The Independent Review of Victim Services that he commissioned identified a number of gaps in the provision of services for hate crime victims. The Hate Crime Reduction Strategy for London, along with new victim services commissioning powers, provides an opportunity to work with others to address this by ensuring the provision of specialist services for hate crime victims. The Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) is offering a conditional grant for the delivery of a one year pilot Hate Crime Victims Advocates scheme. The purpose of the pilot is to establish whether such a scheme will improve outcomes for hate crime victims including; reduced repeat victimisation, increased feelings of safety, improved accessibility of services and a reduction in the attrition rate of prosecutions where victims choose a criminal justice path. A competitive, conditional grant award process is being used to commission the pilot, which has a maximum value of 175,000 and will run from January In recognition of the specialist nature of the services required, MOPAC will welcome consortia or partnership bids in order to meet the range of skills, expertise and requirements set out. In line with the timeline detailed below, the conditional grant award will be made by the 13 November

4 2. Timeline Procurement Process Start Finish Invitation To Tender (ITT) published: a total of 6 weeks to submit tender Clarification Questions: a total of 3 weeks from the date the specification goes live to submit questions Mon 21/09/15 Weds 21/09/15 Fri 30/10/15 Mon 12/10/15 Responses to all Clarification Questions will be published on this date, on MOPAC s website: Potential clarification interviews for providers: Bidders may be asked to attend a clarification interview anytime during this period Grant Awarded and notice to unsuccessful providers Mon 02/11/15 Weds 14/10/15 Fri 06/11/15 Fri 13/11/15 Formal cooling off period Fri 13/11/15 Sun 22/11/15 Mobilisation and Integration Period. Two month period for mobilisation and integration with local services and other set-up activity Service to officially commence Mon 23/11/15 Mon 25/01/16 Fri 22/01/16 4

5 3. Budget The total budget available for this tender is up to 175,000 for the delivery of a one year pilot scheme. This pilot is being commissioned on the delivery of outcomes. However, due to the level of set-up activity that may be required to launch the scheme, up to 30% ( 52,500) of the total budget will be immediately available to the successful provider(s) to enable mobilisation. This payment will made on the basis of delivery against an agreed mobilisation plan. In line with our outcomes-based commissioning model, the remaining 70% of the budget will be paid to the provider retrospectively for services delivered and will be linked to the achievement of the service outcomes outlined in the service delivery model and key criteria. 4. The need for a pilot scheme The Hate Crime Reduction Strategy for London was published in December It contains 29 key actions 3 assigned to, and agreed by, statutory partners including MOPAC, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the Crown Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice, the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Company, Local Authorities and housing providers. From our work in the development of the strategy and our wider work in developing victims services, we know that an awareness of victim needs is vital in effectively supporting those who report hate crime. The report on Victims Services in London also identified that the lack of signposting and referral to appropriate support services was particularly marked for victims of hate crime. Further, the CPS annual report on hate crime in 2012 identified that almost one in four failed hate crime prosecutions collapsed because the victim dropped the allegations, unexpectedly failed to attend court, or their evidence failed to support the case. We also know that hate crime victims are more likely to suffer repeat victimisation when compared to victims of all crime. MOPAC analysed a range of data to inform the development of the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy. Further detail can be found in Appendices 2, 2a and 3, and 3 See Appendix 1 5

6 within the Strategy document 4. However, the points below outline some of the key issues for consideration in understanding the context of hate crime in London. The offence data 5 indicates that: Recorded offences have increased across all strands of hate crime; the greatest concentrations of offences and victims are in the London boroughs of Westminster, Lambeth, Hackney, Camden and Tower Hamlets; the proportions of each strand of hate crime are consistent across London, with the exception of Hackney and Barnet where high faith hate crime reflects the existence of large, visibly Jewish populations; and all hate crime is under-reported and this is even more acute for disability and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender hate crime. The suspects and sanction detections data 6 indicates: All sanction detection rates fell in the rolling year Apr14-Mar15 compared to previous rolling years across all strands, with a significant drop in homophobic hate crime sanction detection rates against an increasing number of offences; The highest sanction detection rate is for Racist and Religious hate crime (30.7%) and lowest sanction detection rate is for Disability hate crime (5.8%). The highest volume of people proceeded against (PPA) in the rolling year Apr14- Mar15 is for racist and religious hate crime offences (3052), and the least for disability hate crime offences (13); In the year to March 2015 over 3000 people were proceeded against for hate crime offences. 81% of offenders who were proceeded against were charged. The court data 7 indicates: The CPS records all cases which the victim perceives as a hate crime at the time the case is reviewed. In Oct-Dec 2014 there were 886 prosecutions with a hate crime element, a 15.4% increase from the previous quarter; In 2014, there were 2,173 defendants prosecuted at Magistrates' Courts for racially or religiously aggravated offences in London. This represents a 4% increase compared with 2013 volumes. Most prosecutions are for causing public fear, alarm and distress (75% of total prosecutions); The number of hate crime prosecutions has increased to a greater extent than the number of unsuccessful prosecutions resulting in a lower rate of attrition. Respondents to the consultation conducted during the development of the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy recognised the key issues affecting hate crime victims, and pointed to the importance of one-to-one support to help victims to access practical and emotional support and navigate the criminal justice system. 4 See the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy, What we know about hate crime, pp See Appendix 2 data is for rolling year to March See Appendix 2 data is for rolling year to March See Appendix 2 data is for rolling year to March

7 The Hate Crime Strategy responds to this evidence through Key action 17, which states that: MOPAC will work with criminal justice system partners to develop and pilot a scheme of Hate Crime Victim Advocates to support those who have been targeted and to help them cope and recover. The proposal for such a pilot was widely supported during the development of the strategy. Studies have shown that when high risk clients engage with Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) there are clear and measurable improvements in safety. A pilot that replicates the concept of IDVAs for hate crime victims will explore whether this could be a model that could not only provide one to one support for victims, assisting them in accessing the most appropriate services, but could also assist in navigating the courts process if a criminal justice outcome is what they seek. This Invitation to Tender (ITT) offers potential providers the opportunity to deliver a one year pilot of a scheme which can be evaluated for its effectiveness in assisting victims to access appropriate services, navigate the criminal justice system if they choose that path, and to feel safer. This is a developmental piece of work aimed at learning what works best to help victims cope and recover from their experience. 5. Governance, reporting and evaluation Governance As commissioner of the pilot, MOPAC is responsible for contract management to ensure effective delivery and value for money. The London Hate Crime Panel 8 will provide strategic oversight and direction for the delivery of the pilot. A multi-agency steering group will also be established to offer feedback and direction on how the service is operating and integrating with existing services. Reporting and Evaluation In order to satisfy the governance structure and receive payment, the successful provider(s) will be required to submit data to MOPAC to evidence performance and delivery aligned to an agreed payment schedule. This data will be required from the provider every quarter and is to include evidence that the service outputs and outcomes as detailed in the successful bid are being achieved. The pilot will be evaluated and the service provider will be required to cooperate with the process and 8 The Panel, established to oversee the delivery of the strategy, meets twice a year and is chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Policing And Crime 7

8 to provide operational data for the purposes of evaluation. Further details of the data reporting and evaluation requirements will be agreed prior to the commencement of the contract and will be included in the terms of the grant agreement. 6. Client group The client group will include: Repeat victims of hate crime in the area(s) where the pilot scheme operates; Victims of hate crime identified as high risk or vulnerable by police, Victim Support or multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) in the area(s) where the pilot scheme operates; Victims of hate crime identified as high risk or vulnerable and referred by third party reporting or other hate crime victims support services in the area(s) where the pilot scheme operates; and Both victims who wish to pursue a criminal justice outcome and those who do not. The client group will not include: Victims of hate crime who are not identified as high risk or vulnerable by police, Victim Support or MARACs; Victims of hate crime outside of the area(s) where the pilot scheme operates; and Victims of hate crime who reside outside of the Metropolitan Police area. For the purposes of this ITT the minimum threshold for classifying a vulnerable victim, will rely on the definition used within the revised Code of Practice for Victims of Crime 9. A victim will therefore be considered vulnerable: If under the age of 18 at the time of the offence; If the service provider considers that the quality of evidence given by the victim is likely to be diminished by reason of: (a) suffering from mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983; 9 8

9 (b) having a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; (c) having a physical disability or suffering from a physical disorder. 7. The service The pilot scheme will be expected to employ practitioners to provide frontline delivery of one-to-one support to a caseload of hate crime victims. The scheme should target victims involved in complex cases, who may be identified as vulnerable or high risk, and for whom a MARAC approach may be required. A standardised and widely recognised role and skills profile for hate crime victim advocates does not currently exist. However, the advocate role will include, but not be limited to the following functions: Provide support, advice and guidance to victims and their families based on an assessment of the victim s needs; Inform victims of their rights and choices in line with the European Union Directive and the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime; Empower victims to make informed decisions; Help victims with safety planning to reduce repeat victimisation; Work with partner organisations to secure the best outcome for victims whether or not they choose to pursue a criminal justice outcome; and Work with clients to help them access relevant statutory and non-statutory services that might support them in coping and recovering, including in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance. For the purposes of the pilot, this ITT does not specify either a specific geographical area nor stipulate that the provider should target a particular strand of hate crime. The service provider may choose to offer support to caseloads from all communities (i.e. all protected hate crime strands) or to provide strand-specific support. However, the pilot must operate within no more than two London boroughs. The service provider will reflect and demonstrate the merits of selecting a caseload from a specific demographic in the tender. The skill set of those providing advocacy should reflect the demographics of the area(s) nominated by the potential service provider for the pilot. Service providers wishing to bid must ensure they can provide evidence of; An understanding of the needs of victims, and the specific needs of victims of hate crime; 9

10 Strong working relationships with statutory services in the area(s) where the pilot scheme will operate; Strong working relationships with other, voluntary and community, support services in the area(s) where the pilot scheme will operate; The ability to integrate the one-to-one support into existing services; The ability to collect data that can be reported and evaluated; and The ability to signpost and refer victims to appropriate support services. 8. Outcomes The commissioning approach is in line with MOPAC s broader approach to the commissioning of victims services for London. The approach is outcome-based to ensure effective delivery and value for money and will ensure that providers: recognise the need for a personalised, victim-centred approach; provide maximum value for victims, through effective integration and clear referral pathways to local borough provision and broader regional provision where appropriate; and maintain an ongoing relationship with existing local services and partnerships to ensure effective implementation, service delivery and enable continuous feedback and improvement 10. The pilot will aim to test the impact of the hate crime advocate role and the delivery of the following outcomes: Reduction of repeat victimisation experienced by clients; Improved accessibility of services to communities that are underrepresented in coming forward to report and seek help; Client satisfaction with the service provided, a reduction in risk and increased feelings of safety; where clients choose a criminal justice path consistent and timely use of Victim Personal Statements and pre-sentence reports; 10 Appendix 5 provides details of MOPAC s partners in the delivery of the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy. Appendix 6 provides details of MOPAC-funded Local Victims Services and Restorative Justice Projects. This is not an exhaustive list of all service provision. 10

11 A positive impact on the attrition rate of prosecutions; Effective integration with other local services and organisations, maximising the value of all local provision; and An evidence base for scalability and sustainability of a Hate Crime Victims Advocates scheme. 9. Essential Criteria The below are prerequisite criteria for service providers wishing to bid for this tender. If these criteria are not met, the evaluation process will cease and the bid will be declined. A primary purpose of the organisation should be to support victims of crime; The organisation must be able to demonstrate the ability to put in place mechanisms and systems for recording and collating data in line with the requirements of the pilot; The organisation must be able to provide evidence of working in partnership with existing local services and partners to maximise the value of all local provision; The organisation must have a demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity supported by an equalities statement. 11

12 10. Evaluation Process The award of the grant will be subject to a competitive tender process and evaluated against the requirements outlined in this document. Following the completion of the bid evaluation process, each bid s combined score against the key criteria of; mobilisation; service delivery; performance and evaluation; and added value, will be added together to determine the total score for each bid. These criteria are weighted as below. The combined score and weighting will determine the successful bid. Criteria Weighting 1 Mobilisation 15% 2 Service Model 40% 3 Performance and Evaluation 30% 4 Added Value 15% Total 100% 11. Key Criteria The completion of this section provides the information against which a bid will be evaluated. Format and Questions Font should be size 12 Arial font; There is a page count limit outlined for each of the key criteria; please ensure you adhere to the prescribed limit; You may respond to the criteria using the Word bid template (see Appendix 7 - the response sections are expandable) or you may do so in a separate document. If you choose to do the latter, please ensure each section is clearly marked and headed in accordance with each of the criteria detailed below; Additional diagrams and charts must be clearly labelled and can be provided separately. There is a period of 3 weeks from the date the specification goes live to submit clarification questions by victims@mopac.london.gov.uk. All questions must be received by 5:00pm 12 October No response will be provided to any question received after this time. 12

13 The responses to all questions submitted within the given time period will be published on 14 October 2015 on the MOPAC website here: Once the specification goes live no direct contact should be made with MOPAC regarding the ITT. Any attempt to communicate with MOPAC may result in your bid being disqualified. Step 1: Complete the bid template Please respond to all of the criteria and be sure to adhere to the page limits. Step 2: Submit bid You should your bid to the following address: If you have not had an acknowledgement from us that we have received the bid within 2 working days of submission, please contact us to ensure your tender has been successfully received. Step 3: Clarification Interviews After assessment by a panel of MOPAC appointed representatives, bidders may be invited to a clarification meeting at any time during the week commencing Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November The purpose of this meeting will be solely to seek further clarification on the responses contained in the submitted bids. Step 4: Grant Awarded and notice to unsuccessful providers All bidders will be ed directly to inform them of the outcome of the bid by Friday 13 November

14 Evaluation Criteria and Bid Template Ref Outcome 15% Mobilisation: (5 pages in total) Effective and timely implementation of the service and data collection, including effective consortia arrangements (if applicable). Weighting 1-3 Maximum score A detailed plan for the two month mobilisation period (Nov 2015 Jan 2016). This should include identification of key activities, milestones, timescales, risk and contingency arrangements, as well as work with other partners during this period to enable services to commence on time. The project plan will outline the duration of the tasks and the resources required to ensure success. Providers can submit a project plan using excel, MS Project or Word Enter response here (max 3 pages for this section): 1.2 A high level plan for delivery of all elements of the service for the duration of the pilot, (January 2016-January 2017), using excel, MS Project or Word Enter response here (max 3 pages for this section): Evaluation Criteria and Bid Template Ref 2 Outcome 40% Service Model: (9 pages in total) We want to know you can deliver, promote and integrate the service with existing hate crime support services Weighting 1-3 Maximum score Outline how you will deliver the service in line with the requirements in section 7. Please include details of (i) how you will ensure the advocates are appropriately skilled and trained to deliver the scheme and (ii) how you will identify clients and assess their needs Enter response here (max 3 pages for this section): Provide details of the location and target client group for the pilot and include evidence to support your choice of location and client group Enter response here (max 2 pages for this section): 14

15 Provide evidence of work with statutory and other partners, including those providing legal, housing, health and financial advice, that will enable you to support your clients Enter response here (max 2 pages for this section): Outline how you will establish and develop partnerships with the police and other hate crime support services in order to enable cross-service signposting and referrals Enter response here (max 2 pages for this section): Evaluation Criteria and Bid Template Ref 3 Outcome 30% Performance and Evaluation: (3 pages in total) Information reporting, outcomes and learning: We want to know that you are focused on delivering outcomes and learning within the context of the pilot. Weighting 1-3 Maximum score 3.1 Outline how you will demonstrate the application of learning through quality assurance processes including a specific focus on monitoring and measuring quality and outcomes of service provision in line with the pilot outcomes (see section 8). Enter response here (max 2 pages for this section): Outline your ability to put in place mechanisms and systems for recording data in line with the service requirements (see section 7), and how you will share data with MOPAC and other partners Enter response here (max 1 page for this section): 3.3 Outline your how you intend to measure victim satisfaction feedback for the service, reductions in risk to the victim and increased feelings of safety. Enter response here (max 1 age for this section):

16 Evaluation Criteria and Bid Template Ref 4 Outcome 15% Added Value Consider any aspects of your proposal, organisation or experience which may bring additional benefits to the pilot - e.g. existing partnership relationships, particular skills or methods, greater efficiencies or economies of scale. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list; these examples are intended to aid your considerations of this criterion. Weighting 1-3 Maximum score 4.1 Describe what additionality you can deliver to complement the services outlined in Section 7. This might include existing relationships with partners and service providers, matched funding and/or in-kind support Enter response here (max 2 pages for this section): 16

17 12. Budget Pilot Scheme budget Type Budget Allocation ( ) Comments/Notes E.G. Staff Office Space Specialist Fees Other (please specify) Total In Kind Contributions Type Cash equivalent Comments (please provide costings) E.G. Volunteers Room Specialist Fees Other (please specify) Total 17

18 13. List of Appendices Appendix 1-29 Actions in the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy Appendix 2 - Hate Crime Dashboard (March 2015) Appendix 2a - Illustrative diagram of case flow through the criminal justice system Appendix 3 - Updated Hate Crime Victim Data Tables (August 2015) Appendix 4 Metropolitan Police Service Liaison Officers Appendix 5 - Key Partners in the delivery of the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy Appendix 6 - MOPAC-funded Local Victims Services and Restorative Justice (RJ) Projects Appendix 7 Word bid template 18