Bolton CCG - Challenging Behaviour Unit for Dementia Patients

Expressions of Interest are invited from appropriately experienced and capable providers to commence an engagement with Bolton CCG and Bolton Council (the Commissioners) to assist development of commissioning intentions for future provision of a Challenging Behaviour Unit for, but not exclusively, older adults with dementia, including those with complex needs and behaviours that challenge mainstream service provision.

Currently Bolton CCG and Bolton Council jointly fund the challenging behaviour element of this model through a combination of out of area spot purchased placements and a service level agreement with one local provider, on behalf of two other Greater Manchester CCGs. The referral and access processes are gatekept by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, and for the Bolton element, the demand on these beds has fluctuated throughout the year from 10-15 beds.

The Commissioners are looking for innovative, forward thinking providers to potentially enter in to a longer-term contract, avoiding spot purchase arrangements, to create stability for the client group, the provider and the system, and to ensure the most complex individuals can be supported safely and appropriately in one location, ensuring as their needs change there is the ability to step-up and step-down rather than have the upheaval of moving to a different location, providing end of life care, when required. In view of the impact of COVID we envisage this may be a timely opportunity for existing providers to flex current care provision, or for new providers to develop a model that can meet the needs of the Bolton population.

To express your interest in providing this service and to provide your feedback, providers are asked to complete the short questionnaire that is attached to this notice and return by email to Rachel Ubermanowicz (rubermanowicz@nhs.net) and David Evershed (d.evershed@nhs.net) no later than midday on Friday 26th March 2021.

Participation in the engagement exercise is not a mandatory requirement for participating in any potential future procurement however responses received will assist to inform the Commissioners with regard to the final specification of its requirements and what might be the most suitable process to award any contract, including whether a competitive process will be appropriate / necessary.

CONFIRMATION OF YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST TO BE A PROVIDER OF THIS SERVICE.