Invitation to Tender
Contact: / Joe Kent,Assistant Operations Director, Health and Well-being,
Project: / Reaching Out Counselling and Psychotherapy Service Evaluation
Commissioned by Barca-Leeds
Overview: / Reaching Out is a Big Lottery funded counselling service provided by Barca. The current contract started in January 2016 and is due to complete in January 2019. One to one counselling sessions are provided free of charge to people in need in postcodes LS12, LS13 and LS28, often providing long-term counselling for individuals with high needs. The service also provides several different group sessions providing CBT, a group supporting men to manage their anger issues and a group providing therapeutic support and a support network for highly vulnerable adults.
Purpose of Evaluation and Output
  • An evaluation of the service is required to highlight the successes of the work and provide learning from 2.5 years of service delivery. This will inform our plans for the future and be used to provide feedback to the Big Lottery and also health commissioners and other interested stakeholders. This will be in the form of a written report covering the following subjects:
  • A review of the service to test the aims and actual delivery of the service
  • The changing context of Leeds both during the period of the service and looking ahead to the future
  • It should:
  • Show the efficacy and value of the service to the client group
  • Evaluate the overall success and impact of the service
  • Identify what has been learned
  • Make recommendations about the need for this type of service based on the value to clients and the strategic context in Leeds

Budget: / In the region of £4,000 subject to negotiation
Timescales: / 6 - 8 weeks for duration of work
Information & data availability / The evaluator will work closely with the Project Manager who will provide support and access to the source materials including:
  • Data recorded on the CORE national database which measures progress for individuals
  • Past feedback from clients
  • Two annual reports summarising the data and issues
  • Consultations with group facilitators and counsellors
  • Consultations with group members and other clients of the service
  • Meetings with referring agencies and commissioners

How to apply / Send an expression of interest covering the following in your application submission:
  • Your relevant experience of evaluation work
  • An outline plan for the work including how many days of activity you expect to put in, the cost and an outline of the expected contents of the written report
  • An example of your previous work (via a sample document or on-line link)
Submissions should be made electronically to () FAO Kelsey Trevethick no later than 9am on Tuesday 3rd April 2018. If you would like an informal conversation please call Kelsey on 07587035290. We will invite shortlisted candidates for a meeting on Tuesday 10th April 2018.

Who we are:

Barca-Leeds is a community based charity limited by company guarantee. We are an organisation that delivers transformational services to adults, children, young people and families in Leeds, bringing people and services together to better respond to the needs of each individual.

What we do:

We work with a range of partner organisations, both voluntary and statutory, to deliver a community offer which reduces social isolation and supports people to develop their own initiatives to achieve independence. Through our work we engage with communities and individuals in order to improve their social and economic wellbeing. We support people to unlock the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving their potential. We enable people to aspire to positive futures by delivering advice, support and guidance to improve wellbeing at a community and individual level. This includes those who may be excluded from other services that have multiple and complex needs. We support people struggling with housing issues, finances, physical health and their mental well-being. We work with children, young people and adults affected by domestic abuse or drug and alcohol issues. We also enable people to access employment and education opportunities. We recognise that within communities, families and individuals there are considerable strengths and experiences and we firmly believe in our asset based approach and work with people to co-produce solutions that respond to their needs.

1 | Page