Framework Agreement for Live-in Care (All-Ages), Complex Care (All-Ages) and Trusted Assessors for Spot Therapy and Clinical Psychology Provision (SEND) for NHS Devon Integrated Care Board

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (the Commissioner) are establishing a Framework Agreement and appoint suitable providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the following services:

LOT 1 - Live-in Care at Home for All-Ages

LOT 2 - Complex Care for All-Ages

LOT 3 - Trusted Assessors for Spot Therapy and Clinical Psychology Provision (SEND)

The geography covered is that of NHS Devon ICB.

4) The duration of the framework agreement is for a period of 4 years commencing on 12th January 2026.

5) The combined maximum value of the Framework Agreement is £61,297,064 for the 4-year period

LOT 1 - Live-in Care at Home for All-Ages - £2,757,224

LOT 2 - Complex Care for All-Ages - £56,091,840

LOT 3 - Trusted Assessors for Spot Therapy and Clinical Psychology Provision (SEND) - £2,448,000

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

1. Adults

NHS Devon ICB commissioning team are responsible for the direct contracting of support for those Individuals eligible for health funding to support an assessed health and social care need. This includes support for those Individuals who are in receipt of Continuing Healthcare funding, S17 MHA leave funding, S117 MHA, aftercare funding, Transition funding and a range of other local funding streams to support rehabilitation, specialist support and interventions, intermediate care, step down services and discharge to assess provision.

As part of the Commissioned Care offer of a range of service delivery models to enable Individuals to remain supported living within their own homes the Commissioner needed to commission Providers to deliver high quality personal care to Individuals with complex health care needs. These Individuals require a registered nurse to undertake a clinical lead role and provide clinical oversight and management of the package of support. This may include the direct provision of registered nursing staff to deliver care, or care delivered by highly competent non-registered health care staff.

The most important consideration for people and carers is to have a core care team or an Individual Personal Assistant who is respectful, kind, honest and treats the person with dignity and respect. The Personal Assistant or core care team work with the person and their families (as appropriate) to enable their choices and maximise their independence as far as able. They also contribute to the person-centred Care Plan to ensure the care plan meets need.

It is key that commissioned care is personalised, high quality care and support, delivered when and where the person needs it and in a way that works for them. Their Care Plan should be designed with the person in mind and be outcome focused. It should enhance what the Individual can do for themselves and should foster independence.

It is recognised that commissioned care has challenges associated with supplying services to people with varying levels of complexity and intensity of care needs, both in a complex health context and in a large geographic county, that includes hard to reach parts of Devon. NHS Devon ICB want to work with providers who understand these challenges and are focused on ensuring that future service arrangements futureproof these ongoing issues. Moreover, quality assurance must underpin all service provision.

2. Children and Young People

The Commissioner is responsible for the direct contracting of support for children and young people (0-18-year-old) eligible for health funding to support assessed health and eligible social care need. This includes support for those individuals who are in receipt of Children's Continuing care funding, s.117 aftercare arrangements, rapid response to EoL care, and a range of other local funding streams to support rehabilitation, specialist support and interventions, intermediate care, and step-down services as well as on an exceptional basis (e.g., recommendations from an NHS health professional where needs cannot be met by universally commissioned service) and are considered on an individual basis.

To enable children and young people to receive person centred care whilst living at home the Commissioner has a need to commission Providers to deliver high quality personal care to support the child, family, and carers.

These children and young people with complex health care needs require a paediatric nurse, or registered nurse with relevant up to date paediatric experience to undertake a clinical lead role and provide clinical oversight and management of the package of support, with the care delivered by highly competent non-registered health care staff but may require the direct provision of registered nursing staff to deliver care.

Caring for children with complex needs in a community setting is an area of specialised work focused on the services and professionals that offer nursing / care support and interventions to children who have very different physiological and psychological needs to adults. Commissioners recognise that community children's services are fundamental to improving urgent care, through minimising unplanned hospital admissions and reducing the number of days that children and young people spend in hospital.

It's important to Children, Young People and Parents/Carers to have consistent care team, who treat them with kindness, dignity, and respect, and who arrive when expected; that they are involved in deciding the nature of their Provider Care Plan, that they know who to talk to if something is going wrong and that any concerns are quickly addressed.

The Commissioners want to secure personalised, high-quality care and support, delivered when and where the child or young person needs it and in a way that works for them. Their Care Plan should be designed with them and be outcome-focused, enhancing what they can do for themselves and should foster independence wherever possible.

The value for Lot 2 - Complex Care for All-Ages is £56,091,840 for the 4-year period.