CP2677-25 Medical Provision into Atkinson Secure Childrens Home

Concepts

• general practitioner
• exeter
• atkinson secure childrens home
• children
• secure accommodation
• home
• medical
• childrens
• secure
• atkinson

Location

Devon CC:

Description

The Service Provider will deliver GP services for children and young people accessing secure accommodation within the Atkinson Secure Children's Home, to support children and young people within the home to understand their health needs and feel able to manage their health and wellbeing in a positive way, thus reducing the likelihood of potential risk posed to themselves and/or others. 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.

Total Quantity or Scope

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 £304,450.48. 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.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85121100 - General-practitioner services

Legal Justification

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.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** 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, 20% - The GPs have regular operational catch-up meetings with the home health and wellbeing coordinator throughout the contract to manage the development of new initiatives, to strengthen support in the home for the young people and to support handovers. The GPs also attend Health & Wellbeing meetings with the wider Health & Wellbeing team at the home. Visiting times are agreed with the home and where necessary support is available urgently or remotely via email and telephone calls. Value, Pass/Fail - The provider accepted the available fixed budget. Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability, 30% - This provider regularly meets with the Health & Wellbeing Coordinator at the home as well as the wider health & wellbeing team (see Quality and Innovation above). Examples have been provided of instances where the provider's service team worked closely with the Clinical Psychologists and support staff within the home, plus Paediatricians to monitor, support and reassure a young person undergoing some health difficulties. Through this collaborative working, admissions to hospital were avoided. Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice, 30% - Young people living at the home are registered with this providers practice improving access to local health provision. This provider delivers the vaccination services to the home for both young people and staff improving access and reducing health inequalities resulting from incomplete vaccination records. The doctors also support young people to access services when it feels difficult or they develop an issue around a particular health concern. Further to this, the provider refers young people on to further services where this is appropriate so that young people are supported to access sexual health and eating disorder/restricted eating support. The GPs have also been supporting the development of access to a range of homely remedies that the young people can access to support their own health and wellbeing as needed. The GP has also supported the building of relationships with a local pharmacy so that young people are able to access effective and timely treatments as prescribed by qualified health professionals. Social Value, 20% - The young people living in the home are very vulnerable with a history of trauma. Their experiences make them less likely to understand their rights to health provision or what they can access to support a given health need. This provider has built trusting relationships with the young people living at the home over a number of years, building trust in health provision. This ensures that the young people are better able to address and avoid health inequalities going forward, feeding into a better future for the young people, and better outcomes for the communities they return to on leaving the home. After carrying out the assessment, the Authority is satisfied that the existing provider is both: Satisfying the existing contract to a sufficient standard, according to the detail outlined in the existing contract, and taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria. Able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard, according to the detail outlined in the new contract, taking into account key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria.