ITT: Support partner for the Adopting Innovation programme

About the Adopting Innovation programme

The Adopting Innovation programme will support up to four ambitious provider organisations across the UK to work towards a shared aim: to support NHS teams to create the conditions within their organisations that evidence shows lead to more effective implementation of innovations. In establishing these conditions, teams can deliver the best possible care for patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented demands on the health service. Teams are having to rapidly adopt new ways of working and adapt to constant change. As we move into future stages of the response, time and support are needed for new ways of working to be sustained and create long-lasting impact for patients.

This programme is a unique opportunity for local health economies to secure investment towards accelerating effective uptake of new ideas that meet the challenges of delivering care to all who need it during and beyond the pandemic.

The programme will support 4 innovation hubs across the UK. The hubs will each receive funding of up to £475,000 over 2.5 years and we expect that they will also bring their own in-kind support/funding. NHS providers will lead each hub and will be expected to have a partner that includes a regional or national health care organisation that plays a key role in establishing and delivering the hub.

It is anticipated that the hubs will start their hub set-up and implementation between June 2021 and December 2023.

Support partner for the Adopting Innovation programme

We are seeking to appoint a supplier to act as a support partner and work with the Health Foundation and the selected hubs to deliver the Adopting Innovation programme.

The support partner will collaborate with each hub to understand their delivery support needs (which could include project management and operational set-up, coaching, facilitation, leadership, organisational development and sustainability planning) and their technical expertise needs (which could include co-production, improvement methodologies, diversity and inclusion, partner and network development, information governance, implementation of digital technology, legal matters, evaluation and measuring impact and communication).

The support partner will then co-produce a support model for each hub, and work to deliver these support packages, working with additional suppliers where needed.

To deliver the support packages, the support partner will need expertise and practical experience in innovation uptake and adaptation of existing innovation, co-production and public involvement in service improvement, coaching and learning and development, partnership working, approaches to service improvement in health settings, measuring impact and sustainability planning,  event and project management.

The support partner will also contribute to programme-level activity, including designing and delivering events, capturing learning, and enabling peer learning and support across the hubs.

The support partner will have a strong understanding of approaches to improving health care and should demonstrate knowledge of the challenges associated with innovation adoption and the importance of local adaptation in the spread of existing innovations. The support partner will be committed to diversity and inclusion and should commit to the principles we have proposed that the hubs should work to (see Call for Applications).

The successful supplier will be required to start working with the partnerships in June 2021 and to provide support for the programme until early 2024.

How to apply

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please follow the steps below to complete your application.

1. Important supporting information

All applicants must read the invitation to tender in full before completing the online application form.

2. The application form

All applications must be completed and submitted via our online system AIMS. You need to first register on AIMS before you can complete the online application form. It is important that you register as your organisation rather than as an individual. Please include the contact details for the person you wish to be the primary contact for your application.

Full guidance on accessing, completing and submitting your application via AIMS can be found in the Applicants user guide. We recommend that you keep a copy of this manual to hand to refer to while you complete your application.

3. Information call

We will hold an information call on Wednesday 13 January. If you would like to attend, please register your interest to join on Eventbrite. Any questions related to the information call should be emailed to adoptinginnovation@health.org.uk by 17.00 on 11 January.

4. Deadlines

The deadline for online applications is midday (12.00) on 10 February 2021. We will not accept proposals submitted after this time.

We intend to interview shortlisted bidders on 17 and 18 March 2021 to explore proposals in more depth. Please ensure you are available to be interviewed on these dates.

We expect to inform applicants of our final decision in the final week of March 2021.

If you have any queries about the programme or the application process, please email adoptinginnovation@health.org.uk.