Invitation to tender to evaluate Tús Maith Pilot Programme 

Tús Maith: a One-year Pilot 

Funded by Bon Secours Tús Maith is a one-year pilot programme to extend the range of treatment options offered by Tabor Group. It is a community-based, pre-residential programme. 

It aims to be a ‘bridge’, providing support and contact with people having completed their assessment and while either waiting for or getting ready for residential treatment. 

It is estimated that approximately 6-8 people per week will participate in the programme, an overview of which is outlined in this document. Two Addiction Outreach Workers (8 hours per week each) will deliver the programme. The Tús Maith programme will start in March 2025. The Tús Maith Programme will be independently evaluated.

Tabor Group is now inviting proposals from experienced individuals and organisations experienced in evaluation in a social care setting, to independently evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the Tús Maith on participants, with a view to suggesting any service delivery improvements and inform the case for continued funding for the programme beyond the pilot phase. 

Specifically, Tabor Lodge would like the evaluation to include an assessment of:

• Processes involved in navigating the Tús Maith Programme, and if fit for purpose.
• Clarity and accessibility of the information given about the Tús Maith programme in plain and simple language to the client; family and referent.
• Communications about and understanding of Tús Maith programme expectations by clients and staff; in particular around urine testing.
• Quality, content and usefulness of Care Plans, with SMART goals that are individualised to each person’s situation.
• Quality of Tabor Group’s data collection and record keeping.
• Extent to which the Tús Maith programme is meeting its overall aims for intended individuals and its impact. 

Key Deliverables 

• Interview/focus group with a cohort of clients about the quality and usefulness of the Tús Maith programme. 
• An Interim report: September 2025 at 6-month mark of 12-month pilot.
• A Final report: December at 9-month mark of 12-month pilot. 

Please see Tender Document attached below.

The budget for the completion of this independent evaluation is €7, 000 including VAT.
The deadline for proposals is 28 February 2025. Submissions to be sent to Mick Devine, Clinical Director at Tabor Group email: mdevine@taborgroup.ie