Scotland Ratho Park, 88 Glasgow Road Ratho Station Newbridge EH28 8PP Tel: 0131 335 4050 msscotland@mssociety.org.uk mssociety.org.uk/scotland Helpline: 0808 800 8000 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Needs Assessment and Engagement Invitation to Tender Tayside Health Board Area The The is the UK s leading charity for the 107,000 people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their carers across the UK. In Scotland it is estimated that there are over 11 000 people living with MS. Our vision is a world free from the effects of MS and our mission is to enable everyone affected by MS to live life to their full potential and secure the care and support they need, until we ultimately find a cure. It has a national centre in London, at which its governance, communications, policy, central fundraising, services directorate teams are based. It has offices in Wales, Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelands, each with its own Country Director and small but effective communications, fundraising and policy teams. The country teams are supplemented by a team of local network officers, whose role is to support local volunteer groups (33 in Scotland), to form and sustain activities to support local people affected by MS. The has three volunteer groups across Tayside who run a range of social and peer support activities. Tayside Health Board incorporates three Local Authority areas, Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. The has three volunteer groups located in each of the three Local Authority areas. Each group delivers a range of social and peer support activities in their local area. Incidence and Prevalence Estimates NHS Board Total Population People with MS (prevalence) Est. number [i] Est. rate per 100,000 [ii] Est. number People diagnosed with MS per year (incidence) Est. rate per 100,000 [ii] Est. number Scotland 5,347,600 209 11,190 13 670 Tayside 412,160 209 860 13 50 Page 1 of 6
Local Authority Total Population Est. number [i] People with MS (prevalence) Est. rate per 100,000 [ii] Est. number People diagnosed with MS per year (incidence) Est. rate per 100,000 [ii] Est. number Scotland 5,347,600 209 11,190 13 670 Angus 116,660 209 240 13 10 Dundee City 148,260 209 310 13 20 Perth and Kinross 148,880 209 310 13 20 Output To deliver a comprehensive gaps analysis and needs assessment report that details: 1) From a Commissioning, provider or health and social care professional perspective, detailed insight through desk based research into the current challenges and gaps analysis around effectively supporting people with MS, specific to each area in Tayside, broken down by each Local Authority area and building on the area profiles (see: Additional support ) 2) A commentary on the challenges or barriers to living well with MS that people face at defined stages of their illness. 3) A commentary on what matters most to those with MS in those areas in terms of being effectively supported to live their life with MS Findings should be segmented into the following categories: Newly diagnosed (estimated 5% of MS population) Learning to live with MS (estimated 35% of MS population) Page 2 of 6
Feedback should also be sought from those who have had MS for many years +15 years) (estimated 60% of MS population) on what would have improved their experience in the earlier stage of their illness. However the emphasis of the report should focus on the Newly diagnosed and Learning to live with MS groups. Purpose This report will provide the Scotland with a comprehensive needs assessment/gaps analysis for this area in Scotland. The report will form the basis of future service design work and restricted funding bids (including Big Lottery Fund). The report should help identify service and support gaps. The report should explore gaps and needs in a co-productive way to ensure that any services that are developed are: what people affected by MS need; and do not duplicate existing services but rather connect services. This will enable us to develop the best services and support for people affected by MS, based on identified needs Additionally, the intelligence gained about how best to engage and communicate with people affected by MS on an ongoing, longer term basis, will feed into a Society-wide approach. Required activity 1. Desk-based research. 2. One to one discussions with four staff (Director, Head of Services and Support, External Relations Officer, Local Networks Officer) and (three) local group volunteers who deliver services in this area of Tayside. 3. One to one discussions and a follow up round table event with MS professionals, Commissioners, service providers etc. to understand what challenges they face in effectively supporting people with MS and potential solutions. 4. Online survey to people with MS who are not necessarily known to us, advertised via social media (to understand current issues they face and what type of support would help them to live well with MS). Separate emails to be sent to people with MS who are already known to the MSS, such as members to Page 3 of 6
ask the same questions. These would be followed up with further one to one discussions with people with MS via semi structured interviews. 5. Advertise and run focus groups or world cafes to gather responses to bullets points (2-4) above. Aim to attract a minimum of 50 people affected by MS in total across a series of events across the three local authority areas. a. A variety of consultation approaches should be used in order to attract the largest and broadest range of people affected by MS. This will also allow us to identify which approaches work best for particular groups of people affected by MS (i.e. if we only run focus groups in the working day, are we preventing people in employment from participating?) i. e.g. different times of day (lunchtime, afternoon, evening, weekend) ii. e.g. different ways of bringing people to the events (e.g. via the local groups, local advertising, via existing local organisations or MS Nurses and social media) 6. Set up and advertise one closed online shared space to enable the conversation to continue online for fixed period of time. 7. Invite attendees to groups to join/contribute The space should not be branded specifically as the Scotland so that participants feel freer to open up about their experiences and that these events take people away from specific connections to a branch (allowing them to think more broadly) 8. Invite attendees to be part of this larger service development project the how to engage them to be determined by their response to bullet 5 above. 9. Collate and analyse and deliver a June check in/report at the draft and final stages of the findings to the Scotland to use as a basis for development for funding bids (including Big Lottery Bid). Staged payments will be made on satisfactory conclusion of each phase. Additional support Oversight and Researcher liaison to be provided by Director for Scotland/Head of Services and Support for Scotland Part of an Administrative Officer s time to be used to help coordinate the events/venues and to set up interviews as required Page 4 of 6
External Relations Officers (EROs) to support desk-based research, contact with Commissioners, MS professionals and local providers. Also assistance with semi-structured interviews, as required Area profiles will be provided which outline known service provision, prevalence rates etc. which the Consultant will build on following the desk based research and interviews Venue/event costs (room hire, tea and coffee) to be covered by Scotland Central support from the Quality and Innovation and Digital teams related to the set-up, marketing (via social media and email) and management of the online survey as well as pulling the data for the Researcher to analyse. Applicant background The ideal applicant will be experienced and have knowledge of conducting needs assessment/evaluations using participatory, face to face consultation methods. Skills required: an experienced Researcher, ideally with a strong background in conducting interviews and focus groups with adults at risk and public/ third sector staff and managers; experienced in working with and utilising co-production methods; able to undertake desk research and analyse the findings from stakeholder interviews; able to conduct beneficiary profiling and desk research using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies; familiar with the health and social care environment in Scotland; capable of delivering high-quality reports to strict deadlines; able to travel around Scotland and to the Head Office in Ratho, Edinburgh; and an excellent written communicator. Able to follow directions, but also work independently as needed. Page 5 of 6
Tender response Interested parties should submit a costed proposal with a work plan to the Director for Scotland: morna.simpkins@mssociety.org.uk by Wednesday 19 th April 2017 at 17.00, including: A statement (one page maximum) detailing your relevant prior experience and suitability to conduct the qualitative research and prepare a report of your findings with relevant CV/ CVs (no more than 2 pages per CV) A writing sample of a similar research report, recommendations on service delivery or interview based research. Names and address of two references from charities for whom you have fulfilled similar work. Timeline Date Time (24 hr Milestone 5 April 2017 17:00 Tender opens and brief is published 19 April 2017 17.00 Tender closes/costed proposals sent to the 21-24 April 2017 17:00 Tender review, interviews with bidders, contact and contracting 1 May 2017 10:00 Activity (research, interviews, events) starts 1 June 2017 10:00 Mid-point check in update on progress, feedback from MS Society, report template agreed 29June 2017 Midday Final version of report submitted via email to Morna Simpkins Page 6 of 6