Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Devon County Council
County Hall, Topsham Road,
Exeter,
EX24QD
Contact
Grace Evans
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK43 - Devon CC
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
CP2678-25 Occupational Therapy Services into Atkinson Secure Childrens Home
Reference number
DN778143
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Service Provider will deliver Occupational Therapy services for children and young people accessing secure accommodation within the Atkinson Secure Children's Home, to support the needs of the young people within Atkinson from a trauma, sensory, and attachment perspective. Where appropriate, the Service Provider will carry out standardized and non-standardized assessments, considering the young person's motor organization, sensory processing, arousal and attachment behaviours. The Service Provider will also be responsible for meeting the needs of the young people at the home who have difficulties with sensory processing, and emotional regulation and supporting staff in further understanding these needs, and developing and using regulating strategies to support these.
Atkinson Secure Childrens Home is a purpose-built welfare only secure unit in Exeter which is managed by Devon County Council and provides full residential care, healthcare, and education on site in dedicated facilities. The home is registered for 8 young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years-old and accommodated under section 25 of the Childrens Act 1989. The home has been operating for over 30-years and young people are placed with in Atkinson due to either having a history of absconding or are likely to abscond, likely to suffer significant harm or likely to injure themselves or others.
Atkinson secure children's home provides a nurturing and caring atmosphere which develops young people's confidence and self-esteem. All staff are trained in attachment, trauma and restorative approaches enabling the home to effectively manage behaviour and repair relationships. In the most recent Ofsted Inspection in September 2023, Atkinson Secure Childrens Home received a grading of 'Outstanding', prior to which they had maintained a grading of 'Good' for 6-years.
Feedback following the inspection noted that "The secure children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care."
Devon County Council currently have a section 10/75 agreement with NHS England to commission the health and wellbeing services. The section 10/75 in place in this arrangement constitutes a transition between the previous Section 10 and an intention to align to Section 75 agreements throughout the secure estate.
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Childrens Act 2004 and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 the Local Authority must make arrangements to promote co-operation between the authority and the authority's relevant partners. These arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of children in the authority's area relating to their physical and mental health and emotional well-being. For this purpose, NHS England is a relevant partner of the local authority with an area of responsibility which falls within the area of the authority.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £230,100
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK43 - Devon CC
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Service Provider will deliver Occupational Therapy services for children and young people accessing secure accommodation within the Atkinson Secure Children's Home, to support the needs of the young people within Atkinson from a trauma, sensory, and attachment perspective. Where appropriate, the Service Provider will carry out standardized and non-standardized assessments, considering the young person's motor organization, sensory processing, arousal and attachment behaviours. The Service Provider will also be responsible for meeting the needs of the young people at the home who have difficulties with sensory processing, and emotional regulation and supporting staff in further understanding these needs, and developing and using regulating strategies to support these.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice. The Authority intends to award this contract to the existing provider following Direct Award Process C.
The lifetime value of the contract is £230,100.
The contract will commence on 1st July 2025 and will expire on 31st March 2029.
There is an option to potentially extend the contract for a further 3 periods of 12 months.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 27th June 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Sensory Connections Ltd
Taunton
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK43 - Devon CC
Companies House
13795638
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £230,100
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 27th June 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Written representations should be sent to procurementpeople-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Award decisions have been recommended by Devon County Council's Children's Strategic Commissioning team, with key decision makers being:
Senior Commissioning Manager of Children's Services (DCC), Assistant Commissioner of Children and Young People and Non-Custodial Services (NHS England), and Senior Commissioning Manager of Children and Young People and Non-Custodial Services (NHS England).
No conflicts of interest were declared.
The rationale for the relative importance of the key criteria, and the rationale for choosing the provider with reference to the key criteria is explained below:
Quality and Innovation, 35% - The Provider has worked with the young people and staff at Atkinson since 2019 and in this time they have delivered a high quality service. During this time they have offered development opportunities around Just Right State to enable staff to better understand themselves to support how they work with young people to avoid escalation of situations and support their own self-regulation. They have also pioneered the development of a regulatory garden within the grounds of the home to enable young people and staff to use this space in order to manage their own state of being to enable them to better engage with life and learning at the home.
Value, Pass/Fail - The provider accepted the available fixed budget.
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability, 25% - The provider works with staff and young people in the home which demonstrates a strong collaborative and integrated approach. It is well understood within the health & wellbeing team that the provider supports staff as well as young people to have the tools to self-regulate which demonstrates a strong commitment to integration and collaboration. The impact of this is to be able to better support the young people in the home and help the work to be sustainable for the professionals working in this home. In 2024/25 they have also been joint working with the homes clinical psychology students and undertake supervision with the residential support workers.
Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice, 30% - This provider improves access to health services by supporting professionals to work with young people differently, in a way that is sensitive to their sensory needs. This provider also supports young people to better understand their needs so that they can overcome barriers to getting the help that they need. They have supported young people to collaborate in their own care planning and in some cases have empowered young people to be a lead in this process.
Social Value, 10% - All of the above supports young people to interact more positively with the world around them and to identify positive choices in their lives. This will have a significant impact on their ability to interact with health services leading to better health for them and their communities. As stated by Public Health England, "There is clear evidence that good work improves health and wellbeing across people's lives and protects against social exclusion. Conversely, unemployment is bad for health and wellbeing, as it is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity." Therefore by improving access to health services and understanding one's own needs for wellbeing, these young people are more likely to be able to be in good health, for longer, and be more productive and more likely to be employed.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel
London
Country
United Kingdom