Audit requirement for Democratic Therapeutic Communities (OPD) (2024 - 2026)

The Audit Requirement for HMPPS Democratic Therapeutic Communities (DTCs) and Therapeutic Communities Plus (TC+) in England and Wales relates to the provision of Quality Assurance Services. As part of the specification, the supplier will be required to design, develop, deliver and review an integrated standards-based audit and quality improvement process for all DTCs in HMPPS including TC+.

Democratic Therapeutic Communities (DTC's) form part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway. They are structured, psychotherapeutically informed environments within the prison estate which provide group-based therapy within a social climate to promote positive relationships, personal responsibility and social participation for prisoners. They also address a range of needs and behaviours including interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, self-management, and psychological well-being. DTCs are a fully immersive living learning environment.

The DTC's service is to be delivered over a series of two-year cycles, incorporating a full clinical audit, using specialist auditors, within each cycle that measures each DTC's compliance with the detailed and accredited operating models for reducing reoffending. This review process will provide a measure of the quality of the intervention as a DTC and its clinical integrity; additionally, it will provide an assessment of clinical performance and report to the Correctional Services Accreditation and Advice Panel (CSAAP) in line with accreditation requirements.

Additional information:

The Ministry of Justice advertised an open market engagement opportunity in December 2023 via Contracts Finder. No suppliers, other than the incumbent, expressed an interest in the requirement. Therefore, PCR 2015 Regulation 32(2)(a) applies.