The purpose of this report is to seek approval to bring into the council the content management and support / promotion of the WISH (Wellbeing Information and Signposting in Herefordshire) website.

WISH is the council’s main information and advice service for wellbeing and support for adults, children and families in Herefordshire. It forms a key part of the strategic approach to wellbeing and prevention.

WISH has two elements;

·         Technical maintenance and hosting of a website with information, signposting and advice

·         Development, content management and support / promotion of the website

This report covers the second element only.

The current support and development service was commissioned in 2015 from Services for Independent Living (SIL). The original focus of this service was to provide an in-person information and signposting hub to use and complement the website. However, experience has demonstrated that aspects of this service are not required and it is to be discontinued in its current form. The SIL service has therefore already been changed to help transition to an approach focused on promoting and extending the online content of WISH. As a result, there will be no telephone or face to face information and advice offer as part of WISH from 2018.

The contract with SIL will expire in March 2018. The role required to support and complement the online WISH service has changed significantly since 2015 and needs to evolve yet further from April 2018. It is proposed to deliver an in-house service which will focus on developing and promoting the content of the website, maintaining the quality and supporting its additional interactive technology. An extended and fully functioning WISH service is required to ensure it is a current and credible offer, to enable the council’s strategic wellbeing approach and to ensure an effective whole system offer of information, advice and signposting across the county.

Technical maintenance and hosting of the WISH website is commissioned from Public Consulting Group Ltd until May 2020.