Soft Market Testing - Respite for Young Adults with Complex Needs

Bedford Borough Council and partners are seeking to procure respite care and support services for young adults (primarily aged 18-30) with complex needs. The respite services will also support young people with complex needs aged 16 and 17 as they transition between children's and adults' services.

Service providers will be required to work closely and collaboratively with families, social services and health services and short break services for young people with complex needs preparing for adulthood. These services will support young adults with the following needs:

1. Young adults with a Learning Disability, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and behaviours which can challenge

A newly refurbished building has been identified as one option, providing 6 short-stay and respite beds for young adults with LD, ASD and behaviours which can challenge.

This is a large building that will be utilised to meet identified gaps in day opportunities and supported accommodation for this group of young adults. It contains the following additional spaces:

A sensory room, 2 communal kitchens, 2 communal dining and 2 sitting spaces, 2 self-contained flats.

It is anticipated that day opportunities provided at this building will be available to young adults with complex needs who require specialist day opportunities but may not be utilising the respite beds. It is suggested that the two self-contained flats could be used as training flats supporting young adults with complex needs in a progression model to prepare for adulthood; providing opportunities to gain and develop independent living skills.

In order to help us further develop the service specification, we would welcome suggestions based on provider experience of:

•the most effective use of these spaces

•the risks and benefits with providing respite services, day opportunities and supported accommodation services within the same building

•any new or innovative ways of providing respite services for younger adults (or younger people aged 16 and 17) with LD, ASD and behaviours which can challenge

2)Young adults with complex health needs, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities.

Partners are exploring different options to identify a suitable building base for this respite service for young adults with complex health needs, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities. A service specification is also in development.

In order to help us further develop the service specification, we would welcome suggestions based on provider experience of:

•any new or innovative ways of providing respite services for younger adults (or younger people aged 16 and 17) with complex health needs

We would like to obtain initial interest from providers who have prior experience of delivering similar models of care and support. A virtual supplier engagement event will be held on Tuesday 19th January 2021 2-4pm via MS Teams. Pls email Zoe.Jones@bedford.gov.uk with your details to attend.