East Sussex County Council, working with partners in the Local Housing Authorities has selected BHT Sussex as the new provider of the Floating Support Service in the County after a full competitive tendering exercise. We will take on the role of strategic partner to deliver the service from 23rd November 2021.
The new contract combines existing support contracts for working age and older adults into a single countywide service. The contract is expected to run for five years with the potential for a further five-year extension. The contract is valued at around £3.8 million per year.
Nikki Homewood, Director of Advice and Support Services for BHT Sussex, said: “We are in no doubt about the importance of this service in supporting East Sussex residents to be able to remain in their own homes or to find and sustain accommodation suited to their needs. We are very excited about this new challenge and to be working with the Council, as their preferred strategic partner to further develop this key provision.
“Staff assigned to the service currently employed by Southdown Housing Association, Peabody and South-East Independent Living Ltd will transfer to BHT Sussex. This means that people who are currently receiving services will continue to receive support from someone known to them. Service users have been provided with a contact number to ask us any questions relating to their future support.
“Until the new service commences on 23rd November, existing referral arrangements continue, and we will be announcing new arrangements, contact phone numbers and email addresses in the near future.”
Councillor Carl Maynard, Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health at East Sussex County Council, said: “It’s so important that the right support is easily accessible for those wanting to continue to live independently and safely in their own homes, and for those who need support to access housing, regardless of their age or location in the county. I am pleased that BHT Sussex have been awarded the contract to bring three existing services together, following a robust tendering process.”
