Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Services - C292959

Description

NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: NHS Sussex ICB is intending to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C of the UK Health Care Services (PSR) Regulations 2023 for Children's Integrated Therapy (Occupational Therapy, Physio Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy) and Equipment Service (CITES) across Sussex. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be submitted to the relevant authority via the project (Atamis reference no. C292959) at: https://healthfamily.force.com/s/Welcome by midnight (23:59) on 31/07/24. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. This direct award is for a maximum period of 84 months (60 months + 24 months option to extend) The service value is £5,196,000 per annum. CITES is a combined single service that provides children's therapy and equipment and includes all professional therapies, speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. It works seamlessly with other key providers including Education, Paediatrics, CAMHS, and Children's Social Care. The service will be fully integrated with all stages of the neurodevelopmental and neuro-disability pathways. Its success will be in contributing to timely and streamlined assessment and management to improve children's outcomes. Removing inefficiencies and duplication, promoting equality of access according to need, improving quality standards and increasing value for money are all values of the service. The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service's overarching aim is that all children and young people known to the service achieve their best possible developmental potential and physical and emotional health and well-being both in childhood and through transition into adulthood. The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service will provide equipment on loan to disabled children and young people living in East Sussex enabling them to do tasks they would otherwise be unable to do, to enable access to education, or to provide support to a Carer to enable ongoing care in their home. The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service will work closely with health providers and the wider Local Authority to deliver services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD), and other relevant national guidance. The service is a significant provider alongside other services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and is required to contribute to the way of working outlined in the SEND Reforms of the Children and Families Act 2014. Lot 1: NHS Sussex ICB intends to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service will: • Contribute to multidisciplinary assessment of children and young people on neurodevelopmental pathways. • Offer a team approach that maintains an appropriate skill mix to achieve best value for children and young people and their families, the Local Authority, and the NHS. • Provide a timely, accessible therapy service that is responsive to the needs of children, and young people that are referred to the service and their families. • Offer multi-agency and inter-agency working to enable therapy objectives to be effectively integrated into the child's everyday life. This includes training for other staff to enhance their skills and support to therapy programmes. • Provide training to parents and carers to improve their ability to support the ongoing needs of their child/children. • Maintain a quality service through investment in continuing professional development, supervision, and support to all team members. • Contribute to the 5 outcomes as co-produced and agreed by East Sussex leaders from health, education and social care, parents, and young people: 1. My voice is heard and acted upon (Participation) 2. My optimum health and wellbeing are supported (Physical and mental health) 3. I feel confident and secure (Safety and security) 4. I belong and feel valued for who I am - Inclusion and belonging (Provision) 5. I am supported to develop and achieve my goals (Progress and achievement) The service seeks to meet: • The assessed health care requirements to be met by the NHS as the responsible commissioner. • The statutory requirements of the Local Authority such as housing adaptations, equipment, and therapy provision for children with education, health, and care plans (EHCP), and assessments for children undergoing a statutory assessment (Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment or EHCNA) including reviews. • Offer a team approach that maintains an appropriate skill mix in order to achieve best value for children and young people and their families, the Local Authority, and the NHS. • Provide a timely, accessible therapy service that is responsive to the needs of children, young people that are referred to the service and their families. • Offer multi-agency and inter-agency working to enable therapy objectives to be effectively integrated into the child's everyday life. This includes training for other staff to enhance their skills and support to therapy programmes. • Provide training to parents/carers to improve their ability to support the ongoing needs of their child/children. • Maintain a quality service through investment in continuing professional development, supervision, and support to all team members. Contract term: 5 years with option to extend for one period of 2 years Contract start date: 1 April 2025 Contract end date: 31 March 2030 Option to extend by 1 x 24-month period to 31 March 2032 Contract value per annum: £5,196,000 Total contract value (including extension): £36,372,000