Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS DEVON INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Aperture House, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane,
Exeter
EX25AZ
Contact
Jamie Mackay
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK43 - Devon CC
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Children and Young Peoples In-Reach Discharge Support Service for NHS Devon
Reference number
C368638
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
1) This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS Devon's Integrated Care Board's (ICB) (the Commissioner), intention to recommission the service currently known as the Children & Young People's In-reach and Discharge Support Service (the Service). The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services.
2) NHS Devon is seeking to secure a Prime Provider who has the capability and capacity to deliver the Service, in line with the specified requirements.
3) The geography covered by this service would be the NHS Devon footprint which aligns to the three Local Authority footprints of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay, working in communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, with community-based services and within the four acute hospital settings.
4) The contract duration will be confirmed ahead of any formal invitation to tender (ITT) being issued. It is likely to be 3 years with up to a 3-year extension. At present the anticipated start date of the contract is 1 April 2026.
5) In the contract lifetime a range of potential changes are foreseeable, including but not limited to changes in:
• the geographical coverage of the provision maybe adjusted or additional geographical areas added.
• the access requirements maybe increased, such that the provision is asked to expand its offer, in relation to specific components, or across the totality of the provision, to enable access to more children and young people.
• the Commissioner, which may change the Commissioner or include additional Commissioners.
Any or all of the above changes would be associated with a need to vary the contract and maybe associated with additional investment.
6) TUPE may apply. Any TUPE information will be confirmed ahead of the formal invitation to tender (ITT) being issued.
7) Total combined maximum contract value will be confirmed ahead of any formal invitation to tender (ITT) being issued. It is likely to be £2,538,000 for the full contract length when applying a 3+3 contract.
This PIN will close on the e-tender portal at Midday 23rd June 2025
This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,538,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK4 - Devon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Overview
This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) (the Commissioner's), intention to recommission the service currently known as Children and Young People's In-Reach Discharge Support Service (the Service). The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services.
NHS Devon ICB is seeking to secure a Prime Provider who has the capability and capacity to deliver the Service in line with the specified requirements.
The geography covered by this service would be the NHS Devon footprint which aligns to the three Local Authority footprints of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay, working in communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, with community-based services and within the four acute hospital settings.
Outline of service/ main requirements
The Children and Young People's In-Reach Discharge Support Service, (the Service), is a health-based mentoring offer which supports CYP in the community and in acute settings to avoid admission, readmission and enable discharge from acute settings. The Service enables discharge and avoids future admission through the provision of relational, holistic social, emotional wellbeing and mental health support.
Outcomes
The ultimate outcome is that more CYP will live happier and healthier lives with mental health problems, prevented, recovered from and better managed.
The Service will support delivery of the following specific outcomes:
Children & Young People with escalating behavioural, emotional wellbeing and mental health needs will benefit from:
• improved experiences in communities and acute settings in relation to the response to and support of behavioural, emotional wellbeing and mental health needs
• being more able to manage behavioural, emotional wellbeing and mental health needs and avoiding crisis or escalation more often. As a result CYP may experience improved social, educational, wellbeing and health outcomes.
Emergency Services will have:
• A reduction in the use of emergency vehicles transporting CYP in receipt of the Service to acute care settings.
• A reduction in the frequency of attendance of CYP in receipt of the Service in A&E settings.
Acute In-Patient Settings will have:
• A reduction in the number of CYP experiencing delayed discharge for reasons relating to their behavioural, emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.
• Reduced use of additional staffing supporting CYP as a result of escalations or crisis arising from their behavioural, emotional wellbeing or mental health needs whilst on the acute hospital ward.
• A reduction in admissions/ readmissions to acute care settings related to escalation or crisis relating to behavioural, emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.
Eligibility
The Service is for Children and Young People (CYP):
- for whom NHS Devon is the Responsible Commissioner (in accordance with current national guidance)
- who are aged 0-17 years in the first instance, and, aged up to 25 years, provided it is safe, effective and in the interests of the CYP
- and who have escalating behavioural, emotional wellbeing or mental health needs, who are at risk of admission whilst in the community, or, who are in an acute setting
Offer
Accessing the Service
The Service will have strong relationships with community and acute teams. These teams will support the identification of CYP, who would benefit from the Service because they are either:
- in an acute setting, or,
- at risk of admission/ readmission to an acute setting
Mentoring/ Peer Mentoring:
This Service is delivered through a mentoring model and includes individual mentoring and peer support group mentoring.
Mentors will co-produce individual support plans with the CYP and their families, working with appropriate partners to identify support already in place and plan support which compliments this where possible. Mentors will implement the plans, adapting as necessary to respond to the holistic wants and needs of the CYP and their family.
The Service will maintain a peer support group, this may include peer mentors for young people.
Personal Budgets
The Service will offer CYP and their family's access to a small, discretionary, non-recurrent personal budget. This is to enable access to specific and agreed materials, resources and support for the CYP, within the community or acute settings, which will support the CYP and their family to prepare for being discharged and to avoid, where possible, further admissions.
Personal budgets will be resourced from within the financial envelope of the contract of this service. The Provider will have appropriate governance mechanisms in place to agree, award and monitor use of personal budgets.
Collaboration & Partnership
The service will develop and maintain excellent partnerships with other professionals supporting CYP and their family across community, acute settings, social care and education partners. This will include working with those already involved and supporting additional involvement.
Service Development & Innovation
Working in partnership with the Commissioner, the service will promote continuous improvement of the Service through consideration or qualitative and quantitative performance and outcomes. This will include developments which respond to feedback from CYP and their families, staff, other professionals and providers, and, the Commissioner
Contract duration and start date
The contract duration will be confirmed ahead of any formal invitation to tender (ITT) being issued. It is likely to be 3 years with a 3-year extension. At present the anticipated start date of the contract would be 01 April 2026.
Indicative TUPE Implications
TUPE may apply. Any TUPE information will be confirmed ahead of the formal invitation to tender (ITT) being issued.
In the contract lifetime a range of potential changes are foreseeable, including but not limited to changes in:
• the geographical coverage of the provision maybe adjusted or additional geographical areas added.
• the access requirements maybe increased, such that the provision is asked to expand its offer, in relation to specific components, or across the totality of the provision, to enable access to more children and young people.
• the Commissioner, which may change the Commissioner or include additional Commissioners.
Any or all of the above changes would be associated with a need to vary the contract and maybe associated with additional investment.
Indicative Total Contract Value
The maximum contract value will be confirmed as part of any formal invitation to tender (ITT), it is likely to be £2,538,000 for the full contract length.
This PIN will close on the e-tender portal at Midday 23rd June 2025
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
12 June 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Authority or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Authority will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise.
Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.
Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number - C368638 ), to gain full access to the relevant information and market engagement questionnaire, you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page.
If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and to be able to submit your expression of interest and market engagement questionnaire responses.
This PIN will close on the e-tender portal at Midday 23rd June 2025
The intention is to award a contract using the competitive process.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) prior information notice. The contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply.