South East Independent Approved Premise Provision

Tender description

As part of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) strategy, a national expansion programme for Approved Premises (APs) and Independent Approved Premises (IAPs) has been devised. APs and IAP’s are a critical part of HMPPS’ commitment to ensure public protection by providing secure accommodation in the community and it meets the agency’s commitment to reduce reoffending by supporting residents with resettlement planning in the community, including securing employment. The aim is to better meet demand for bed spaces to support the management of men and women presenting high risk and complex needs who reside in these facilities. This programme was initiated in response to the ministerial commitment made on 24th January 2019 “by building over 200 additional places in approved premises of which half will be delivered next year”. As part of this national expansion programme we looking to commission new IAPs. Currently we are looking for a provider/s with the capability of delivering services set out in PI 2014 – 32 Approved Premises. In order to deliver this, MoJ is seeking tenders from parties capable of delivering rehabilitative and public protection services that include residential provision for the most high risk and complex offenders in a community setting following release from prison. Lot 1: There are two key elements to the provision of an IAP and the MoJ are looking for an organisation who can deliver both elements; • The first element is the provision of a “fit for purpose” residential unit which will require the relevant licenses to operate as such; this element of the tender will be marked on a Pass/Fail basis. • The second element is the delivery of the 24-hour support service. IAPs work with the highest-risk offenders and are a vital element in public protection arrangements. Effective security is essential for public protection, for offender management, and for the safety of staff and residents alike. They offer a level of contact, support and supervision that exists nowhere else in the probation service with the aim of protecting the public by reducing the likelihood of re-offending. These premises provide enhanced supervision through 24-hour a day staffing, night-time curfews, compliance with consistently enforced rules and a programme of “supervision, support and monitoring, which addresses offending behaviour and the reduction of risk”. Residents are seen daily, and staff become involved in the residents’ lives to a high degree; giving advice, offering support, exercising control and supervision and liaising with the rest of the service and a wide range of agencies. The capacity to engage directly with a wide range of Criminal Justice stakeholders – Courts, Probation, Prisons, Police – is therefore essential. This intensive level of contact is what enables IAP staff to be aware of residents’ actions and changes in their behaviour in a way that no other intervention can and allows a high level of monitoring of residents’ well-being. Security arrangements need to be designed around the fact that they are, at heart, a community setting, rather than a custodial one. At certain times of the day all residents will be in the building; at others some may be free to go out into the community, while others may be under restrictions. Security therefore needs to be flexible in both design and operation. Residents’ presence, behaviour and wellbeing within the AP are monitored through staff interaction, security tours, room checks and CCTV. The building should include designated group work rooms for undertaking employment, housing and training interventions, treatment rooms for work with drug and alcohol users and quiet rooms. Communal areas would normally include a pool room and television area. In house catering can be provided to offer 3 meals daily or facilities can be available by which residents can self-cater. More detail of the requirements can be found in the procurement documents. Additional information: The indicative contract award date is currently planned for early 2022. - Follow the link to the eSourcing Portal. - You have the option to view ITTs open to all suppliers. - Project reference - Prj_7145 - ITT_5723 - ITT reference - ITT_