NHS England South East - Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services

Descriptions

NHS England (NHSE) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services across the South East of England. Interested providers will need to complete a Market Engagement Questionnaire in order to register their EOI (see details below).The contracts will serve all ages of service users across all points of intervention in the youth and criminal justice pathways, addressing a wide range of health issues and vulnerabilities, including those with protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010.The requirement will most likely be split across 5 (five) discrete lots, as follows, with a contract awarded for each lot:•Hampshire•Thames Valley•Kent•Surrey•SussexThe proposed contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024 and will run for a duration of 7 (seven) years, with an option to extend for a further 1 (one) year, at the discretion of the Commissioner.EOIs received will be used to help NHSE identify any existing or potential capacity and determine commissioning and contracting options for these services. As such, only organisations with appropriate experience, capability, and actual/potential capacity to mobilise in this timeframe should respond to this notice.There are high numbers of people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and other psychosocial vulnerabilities entering the youth and criminal justice systems, who can be managed more appropriately in the community, or diverted from the justice pathway altogether.The service will be available to people of all ages, to ensure that it addresses the needs of children and young people, those transitioning between youth and adult services, and adults. The entry point to the service will be as and when an individual comes into contact with the police (or other criminal investigating authority) under suspicion of having committed a criminal offence.L&D services provide a prompt response to concerns raised by the police, probation service, youth offending teams or court staff, and provide critical information to decision-makers in the justice system, in real time, when it comes to charging and sentencing these vulnerable people. L&D also acts as a point of referral and assertive follow up for these services users to ensure they can access, and are supported to attend, treatment and rehabilitation appointments.In this way, L&D services are expected to help reduce reoffending, reduce unnecessary use of police and court time, ensure that health matters are dealt with by healthcare professionals, and reduce health inequalities for some of the most vulnerable in society.Critical drivers of effective provision include:•a clear definition•connectivity across different local agencies with a local post-diversion infrastructure underpinned by a shared commissioning strategy•accessibility•skilled staff•outcome-focused measures and•proportionate and minimal intervention.In order to submit an EOI, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and complete the market engagement questionnaire. Interested providers will be able to view the opportunity via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available at the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Upon doing so you will also be able to access the associated provider questionnaire. IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you complete the questionnaire in order to fully submit your EOI. The deadline for registration, EOI and questionnaire returns is 12:00 5th April 2023.On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.