NHS England South - Liaison and Diversion Services across the South

Tender description

NHS England South is seeking to commission Liaison and Diversion Services across the South. There are high numbers of people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and other psychosocial vulnerabilities who enter the youth and criminal justice systems, who could be dealt with in the community, or diverted from the justice pathway altogether, as well as requiring early identification should custodial sentences be applied. The aim of the L&D Service is to provide early intervention for vulnerable people (adults, children & young people) as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. The service will provide a prompt response to concerns raised by the police, youth offending teams, court staff or any other referral process (including self-referral) and provide critical information to decision-makers in the justice system, in real time, when it comes to charging and sentencing. The service will also act as a point of referral and follow up for these service users, to ensure they can access, and are supported to attend community treatment and rehabilitation appointments. The contract duration will be for 3 years, with an option to extend for up to a further 3 years, with a commencement date of 01 April 2019. The procurement exercise is split into 8 Lots as illustrated below, with the corresponding 3 year financial envelopes. 1. Devon and Cornwall, (including the Isles of Scilly) (£4,890,000) 2. Wiltshire (£1,740,000) 3. Gloucestershire (£2,145,000) 4. Hampshire, (including the Isle of Wight) (£6,454,005) 5. Dorset (£2,441,397) 6. Kent (£4,639,704) 7. Surrey (£2,867,946) 8. Sussex (£4,440,015) Bidders may bid for one or multiple Lots, however, each Lot must be bid for separately and be viable and sustainable in their own right. Commissioners are seeking for improved outcomes for service users, not necessarily for economical savings. A few key outcomes include: •Improved access to healthcare and support services for vulnerable individuals and a reduction in health inequalities •Diversion of individuals, where appropriate, out of the youth and criminal justice systems into health, social care, education and training, or other supportive services •To deliver efficiencies within the youth and criminal justice systems •To reduce re-offending and/or escalation of offending behaviours TUPE may apply to all Lots. Provision for Peer Support is only included in the South West and South Central Specifications. Although there is no provision for Peer Support within the South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) Specifications, it is currently being reviewed nationally for the possibility of additional allocation. The service specification is likely to expand to include peer support through the life of the contract. The successful Provider(s) will be required to adopt these changes. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of NHS England Commissioners.