Social services

Tender description

Thurrock Council is looking to develop a specialist service to deliver support to young people with autism and behaviour that challenges services as they move on from school. Introduction and background: Thurrock Council is looking to develop a specialist service to deliver support to young people with autism and behaviour that challenges services as they move on from school. This is to enable young people to remain within their local communities, family homes or their own accommodation. In Thurrock specialist educational support using applied behaviour analysis and positive behaviour support (ABA) is delivered in one our schools. Children and adult services have run a pilot, in partnership with a local provider, for the last 2 years using the ABA approach. The pilot has tested out the requirement for a service and has supported young people to remain in Thurrock rather than move to residential support. Whilst the ABA approach has been successful we are clear that although well regarded in Thurrock this is not the only approach and as such we welcome interest from providers who deliver care and support to young people with autism and behaviour that challenges services using different methods and skills. This market engagement event is to enable providers to come to Thurrock and gain an understanding of the borough, the requirements for this service and to have a dialogue with commissioners about service development. Requirements: Providers should be able to offer a range of specialist service responses. The criteria for the young people who have accessed the pilot has been that they should be able to move on to independence with appropriate support, would be at risk of being place in residential support outside of Thurrock and that each young person would have autism and behaviour considered challenging to services. The provider should be able to deliver individual care and support for young people to learn skills to live fulfilling lives within their own community.