Provision of Adult Autistic Spectrum Disorder Screening & Diagnosis; Information, Advice & Guidance and Psychosocial Support to Oxfordshire PIN Notice

Tender description

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group ("OCCG") currently operate a pooled budget arrangement with Oxfordshire County Council ("OCC") to commission a number of healthcare services for Adults with High Functioning Autism ("HFA") or Asperger syndrome for those who are registered with General Practice in Oxfordshire. The commissioners wish to transform the current services with a view to improving the outcomes for patients and improving the patient pathway whilst making the services more efficient. To this end the commissioners would like to hear from organisations that have experience in providing the following services that are being considered for transformation to help them consider how best to proceed: DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING • A pre-diagnosis screening service for approximately 100 adults per annum who do not have a learning disability with a view to reducing the number of referrals for full diagnosis that result in a negative result. • A diagnosis service which provides autism diagnosis to an estimated 150 adults per annum using a recognised diagnosis assessment tool, resulting in appropriate referrals for care act assessment and thus reducing the demand for psychosocial support services. INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT • Provision of comprehensive online information on Autism, including understanding the core deficits, the potential benefits and disadvantages of diagnosis, strategies and approaches to living with Autism available via a single point of access with an emphasis on signposting to existing resources. In addition advice and guidance available via telephone, email and other communications channels as appropriate to cope with approximately 450 enquiries per annum. The expectation is that such resources will lead to individuals having an improved awareness, understanding and self/family management of HFA; improved physical and mental health; better access to information, advice and guidance whilst reducing the demand for secondary care, specialist services, screening and diagnosis, psychosocial support services. • A psychosocial support service supporting an average caseload of around 70 adults at any one time who have a positive diagnosis of autism. To address the core deficits of Autism. This service will enable individuals to have improved awareness, understanding and self/family management of HFA to have improved functioning; to have better physical and mental health; to engage more effectively with mainstream services and to reduce the demand on secondary care and specialist services. The contract term is envisaged to be for an initial 2 year period, with the option to renew for a further one year; this is subject to approval and the precise term will be advised at a later date. The contract has an estimated annual value of £235,000. Further information can be found in the additional information box