Dynamic Support Register Keyworker Service

Hereafter all references to the Authority incorporates: NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB and NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB.

The Authority has awarded a contract for the Provision of a Pan Essex Dynamic Support Register Keyworker (non-clinical) Service (the Service) to HCRG Care Services Ltd, using an open procedure under the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

The Contract will be for a term of 36 months from 1st April 2025 until 31st March 2028.

The Authority provided for a potential extension of up to 24 months until 31st March 2030 to future proof this contract, but this is in no way guaranteed, and activation of such extension will be at the sole discretion of the Authority based on fundamental principles laid out in the Tender Documents, as well as the performance of the provider and results of any service evaluations undertaken.

The Contract to be entered into by the Authority and the HCRG Care Services Ltd will be based on the NHS Terms and Conditions for the Provision of Services 2024/25 (version dated August 2022) and all subsequent variations thereof.

The aggregate value of the contract over the term (including extensions) as advertised in Find a Tender Service is £4,715,395 excluding VAT.

The Contract Value for the three-year term, which acted as an affordability envelope for the purposes of bidding, is £2,829,147.

The Authority undertook an open tender to identify a suitably qualified and experienced and technically and professionally capable provider to deliver the Service for Children & Young People (CYP) with learning disabilities and/or autism (LD/A) up to the age of 25, within Southend, Essex & Thurrock (SET).

Locally, SET have too many CYP with LD/A admitted to Tier 4 hospital settings according to national targets.

Embedding the DSR Keyworker Service aims to reduce these admissions for those up to the age of 25 where avoidable and help to maintain and support the CYP's placement within the community.

The Authority has appointed a single Preferred Bidder to manage all aspects of the Service.

As such, a Lotting Strategy was deemed inappropriate and not used, as it risked creation of unnecessary fragmentation and complexity.

Accordingly, the service has been offered as a single contract awarded to a single Preferred Bidder (HCRG Care Services Ltd).