NHS England & Improvement South West - Provision of Health Care Services to Vinney Green Secure Children’s Home

Tender description

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) as a call for competition, initially to obtain expressions of interest from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver healthcare services to Vinney Green Children’s Home (SCH) in South Gloucestershire. <br/><br/>The Commissioner (NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) South West), may then choose to proceed directly to a procurement process with parties who have responded to the notice and in this circumstance there shall be no further notice published.<br/><br/>NHSE/I South West is seeking to re-commission healthcare services to Vinney Green Secure Children’s Home (SCH) in South Gloucestershire. <br/>NHSE/I is responsible for commissioning all health services in the Home and for the clinical governance of the services provided. The key objective of the service is for the CYP to receive an equivalent service to that available to the general population with respect to access to services, based on need. Lot 1: Vinney Green SCH accommodates up to 24 children and young people (CYP) of both sexes, aged between 10 and 17. The population is transient (short average length of stay), dynamic (high rates of turnover), heterogeneous (varied reasons for referral and unique circumstances) and is drawn from a large population (CYP can be referred from anywhere is the United Kingdom). Length of stay in the SCH is highly variable and some young people will start sentences that will see them transition to adult custodial settings.<br/><br/>The following health care services are within scope: <br/><br/>• Primary care<br/>• Mental health<br/>• Emotional wellbeing<br/>• Speech and Language Therapy<br/>• Substance misuse<br/>• Infection prevention and control<br/>• Immunisations and vaccinations<br/>Dentistry is currently accessed through community appointments. <br/><br/>Optometry is subcontracted through the local authority. <br/><br/>The CYP will have complex needs and multiple vulnerabilities requiring on-going assessment, high levels of supervision and multi-agency involvement.<br/><br/>A whole establishment approach to health and wellbeing is required to ensure the children’s needs are met across the secure setting. This includes, understanding of and the promotion of ‘every interaction matters’: maximising opportunities to support children to address their needs including increasing awareness of mental health issues, emotional well-being and overall psychological understanding of child development, attachment and trauma. The healthcare provider will deliver a year-round child centred health service which meets the physical health and well-being needs of the children and young people whilst acknowledging the close relationship between mental health and physical health. <br/><br/>It is anticipated that the new contract will commence on 01 April 2023 with an anticipated contract term of 7 years.<br/><br/>The anticipated annual contract value is: £748,000.<br/><br/>At this time, the Commissioner would like to determine the level of provider interest from those who have the capability and capacity to deliver these services. It is intended that this will help inform the recommissioning and procurement strategy. <br/><br/>This process is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.<br/><br/>Vinney Green SCH is licensed for operation by OFSTED and it contracts with the Youth Justice Board to provide placements for young people. It is subject to regular inspection by a range of government and local authority approved officials, to ensure the highest standards are maintained at all times. The home is managed by South Gloucestershire Council’s Department for Children, Adults and Health.<br/><br/>Vinney Green SCH will occasionally take children on a welfare order under Section 25 of the Children Act (1989) or Section 119 Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 or under PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence). PACE allows for a young person to remain in custody awaiting a court appearance and is therefore only in the unit a matter of hours. Additional information: The services will deliver a year round child centred health service which meets the <br/>physical health and well-being needs of the CYP whilst acknowledging the close <br/>relationship between mental health and physical health.