Support to children with autism - NHS/SOEPS/20.730 - PINCC

This notice is to inform the market of the intention to directly award a 10-month contract (with an option to extend by 12 months) to Aspens for the provision of a Key Worker Service for NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) from 1st June 2023, as well as a 10 month contract to Aspens for the provision of a Youth Engagement Worker Service from 1st June 2023.

The rationale of the Commissioning Authority for this action is because the commissioners believe that Aspens is the sole non statutory sector specialist provider for high quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities; meeting their needs and aspirations and empowering them to learn and grow through an integrated network of services across Sussex and the South-East. Aspens has provided youth engagement service since 2020 in East Sussex, based on their work in West Sussex. One/off NHS funding opportunities enabled the extended service. This offer became Pan Sussex in 2021. Since 21/22, East Sussex Aspens provides the full key working offer for young people/adults under 25 at risk of hospital bedded care; or providing early discharge care for mental health inpatients.

This is one contract for two programs that encompasses all of Sussex (East Sussex & West Sussex).

Duration of Contract:

East Sussex Key Worker Service

10. months (with an option to extend by 12 months).

1st June 2023-31st March 2025

Youth Engagement Workers (Brighton & Hove and West Sussex)

10. months

1st June 2023 - 31st March 2024

Value of Contract:

Key Worker Service (East Sussex only) - 10 month contract of £333,333 plus one year option of up to £400,000 = Maximum total of £733,333 over 22 months Youth Engagement Workers (Brighton & Hove and West Sussex) - 10 month contract of £148,000 = Maximum total of £148,000 over 10 months Total contract value (Key Worker Service & Youth Engagement Workers) = £881,333.

If you wish to express an interest or should you wish to discuss the content of the PIN further, please do this by sending a message via the In-tend e-Tendering portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/soepscommissioning/aspx/Home in the first instance.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 12:00pm (midday) on Friday 26th May 2023.

If no expressions of interest are received, the Authority intends to enter a contract with the incumbent provider relying upon a Regulation 32 exemption of no response/no requests to participate have been submitted in response to this notice, within 30 days of publication.

Please note a portal message is the only accepted method of expressing an interest (correspondence received by an other route will not be responded to).

Additional information: East Sussex - Keyworker service. A service providing a named one to one keyworker for children, young people, and adults up to 25 years old with a learning disability and or who are autistic, where there is a significant risk of hospital admission/s due to lack of alternative preventative support. A Keyworker provides person centred and appropriately skilled support with the aim of engaging the child or young person into appropriate pathways and services to reduce the risk of poor outcomes such as hospital admissions and increase the potential for positive and strength based opportunities. A Keyworker service has key functions such as advocacy, support and 'unblocking' when care and support pathways are unclear. Specialist skills in dealing with young people and families with Autistic spectrum conditions and learning disabilities is desirable, but not essential.

Brighton & Hove and West Sussex - Specialist ASC Youth Engagement Program (YEW). Provide a direct outreach and intensive specialist Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) focused support to young people and their families, who are excluded or at risk of education, home or placement breakdown, or hospital admission, as a result of communication and social difficulties directly related to a diagnosis of ASC. This is a holistic approach to enable the young person to engage with their ASC, appreciate their strengths, learning management strategies and develop resilience to enable them stay in their local community and achieve their personal goals. Specialist expertise in dealing with young people and families with autistic spectrum condition is essential.