NHS England and NHS Improvement (South West) Sexual Offence Examiners & Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the South West

Tender description

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice in order to facilitate engagement with potential providers, and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement, including 1:1 provider meetings with Commissioners. NHS England and NHS Improvement South West, in partnership with the South West Offices of the Police & Crime Commissioners and Police Forces are seeking to re-commission Sexual Offence Examiner (SOE) and Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provision for both adults and paediatrics across the South West. The two services are currently delivered via separate contracts, with a South West wide contract for SOE provision, contract managed by the OPCCs and Police, and four separate contracts for SARC service provision, contract managed by NHSE/I and covering the four Police Force areas of: • Avon & Somerset • Gloucestershire • Swindon & Wiltshire • Devon & Cornwall Consideration is being given to the consolidation of both SOE and SARC Services within an integrated service specification. A final decision regarding scope will be informed by outcomes of market engagement and the Health Needs Assessment. The services in scope for this re-commissioning exercise include; SARC facilities and management, Sexual Offence Examiners and Forensic Medical Examinations, crisis worker provision and onward referral. Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services and therapeutic provision, such as counselling are out of scope of this re-commissioning exercise (these are commissioned separately). The main aims and objectives of the re-commissioning exercise are; - To determine the most appropriate commissioning strategy for SARC and SOE provision. As part of this, consideration will be given to whether the two services can/should be integrated under one contract, with NHSE/I taking the (lead) commissioning responsibility for both elements, to align with other regions in the South. - To determine the most appropriate service delivery model across the region. - To ensure emerging guidance and accreditation requirements are taken into account. - To re-commission sustainable SARC and SOE services across the region as well as increase equity of access and ensure a consistent and high quality of care to victims of sexual assault in line with the Strategic Direction for Sexual Assault and Abuse Services (2018). - To increase and improve cross-border links with SARCs both within and beyond the South West. It is anticipated that the new contracts will commence on 01 October 2022. At this time, the Commissioners would like to determine the level of provider interest from all sectors (including voluntary and third sector) in preparation for forthcoming market engagement activities, which will consist of 1:1 meetings with the Commissioners in October / November 2020 and may then be followed by further events as deemed appropriate, e.g. a briefing event.