Health and social work services

Tender description

NHS Northumberland CCG has been considering alternative arrangements for the future commissioning of affordable, sustainable quality mental healthcare for an IAPT service that is fit to meet the future needs of its communities, can deliver on the expectations of the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) and is aligned to the proposed legislative reform of the NHS within the LTP. After careful consideration, the CCG has concluded that a form of integrated provision between providers is the right model for Northumberland. The CCG is working with local healthcare providers to refine the scope of the model and maximise the benefits to the population. The providers will develop and deliver care models and pathways to improve mental health outcomes for the people of Northumberland and shape sustainable services. The CCG is intending to award a contract with a single host organisation for the delivery of the new model. The CCG is intending to make a direct award of this contract to Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS FT (CNTW) who will work with Talking Matters Northumberland. The reason for this direct contract award decision is that the CCG has, after discussion with the wider Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) provider market, come to the decision that this model, with CNTW being the lead contracting party, is the only viable delivery option currently available which can meet the CCG’s requirements to offer consistency and continuity of service in line with the operational and strategic aspirations of the NHS LTP. The CCG does not therefore consider it necessary to undertake a full procurement process at this point in time. Key provider stakeholders are: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS FT (CNTW) and mental health matters. The CCG will continue to engage with wider stakeholders and providers where appropriate to input into the operation of the services. The CCG is not intending to undertake a procurement exercise for this requirement following discussion with the local ICP market. The CCG has determined that the proposed integrated approach with the current providers of the services will offer a consistent level of service with continuity and achieve better patient outcomes for Northumberland and help to facilitate a more integrated, resilient healthcare system for the population it serves. The current preferred IAPT model is as follows: — the IAPT service will be delivered by an alliance or partnership of key health providers; — CNTW will host this model, and will hold the formal contract under which the total budget for IAPT services will be transferred to the sub-contracted providers; — CNTW will adhere to all reporting requirements set by the contract and through liaising with the identified sub-contractors, will procure all relevant information and ensure this supplied through themselves; — the lead provider arrangement will be for 3 years (with an opportunity to extend for one year) to facilitate the development and delivery of key outcomes; — the providers will become responsible for managing all expenditure on the services, within a fixed budget based on the needs of the population and achievement of the outcomes. The CCG will continuously keep its legal and regulatory obligations under review in relation to the IAPT model development and operate in line with the NHS LTP and legislative changes impacting on the NHS. The CCG believes it has, through engagement with the wider ICP market, identified those providers most capable of leading, developing and providing IAPT Services and participating in the wider system integration as envisaged under the LTP. The CCG’s intention is to continue to develop the model with those providers, moving forward with the possibility of broadening the identity of the delivery providers to the extent that the market for these providers changes over time – appropriate qualification criteria will be put into place at that time to determine consistency with the proposed integration model.