Social prescribing to support REACT services across Ipswich and East Suffolk

In Ipswich and east Suffolk locally, we have a 2 hour Urgent Community Response (UCR) team known as REACT - Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team. REACT is a multi-agency team (health, social care and VCS) to reduce avoidable Emergency Department (ED) attendances /admissions by providing short term support for adults (18 years +) in crisis situations. Urgent assessment can be arranged within 2 hours and REACT can access an Interface Geriatrician via the Frailty Assessment Base (FAB) and step up to community beds as needed. It provides a short-term primary, secondary and community care approach for patients with nursing needs, to be treated in their own home and to prevent an acute admission. REACT comprises nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, health care assistants, generic workers, British Red Cross and Suffolk Family Carers support workers.

As part of the Urgent Community Response (UCR), this model aims to enhance the patient experience within the Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team (REACT) by introducing social prescribing to the multi-disciplinary teams across the 3 hubs in Ipswich, Stowmarket and Woodbridge.

The model will provide additional support and capacity that offers more holistic management of a person's crisis episode and less focus on medical management, leading to a more sustainable and proactive care model.

Additional information:

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Please note that the services and associated specification and prices commissioned within this contract may be subject to review and change, moving forward the Commissioners may further review the above mentioned services in conjunction with the selected providers; therefore, the scope of the possible changes to be made to this contract shall relate to the outcomes of any continuous improvement, through a variation to the contract in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Please see the procurement documentation for further information.

Additionally, the contract may also be amended in terms of the original services supplied or the localities covered, where, following assessment it is identified that it is logical for additional services to be delivered in conjunction with this contract and / or by the provider(s), both in terms of actual service delivery and to avoid duplication of costs. These services may include but are not limited to other services and specialties formally delivered in alternative care settings where it is foreseen that these services can be delivered more effectively as part of this contract.

The services to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the 'Regulations'). As such, the procurement of the services is being run as a process akin to the procedure mentioned above, as outlined within the suite of procurement documents. The Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No