Keyworking Function

The Keyworking Function (KWF) has been developed as a response to the NHS England & NHS Improvement Long Term Plan (LTP) commitment that by 2023/24, children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, with the most complex needs will have a designated Keyworker: implementing the recommendations made by Dame Christine Lenehan.

These are our children: a review by Dame Christine Lenehan.

Initially, keyworker support has been provided to children and young people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic, to avoid unnecessary admission or overly lengthy stays in mental health or specialist learning disability settings, and to keep them and their families safe and well in their community. Every ICS now has an operational, or soon to be operational, keyworking service, funded by new money from the NHS Long Term Plan delivered through each of the seven NHS England regions. Some areas have already extended this offer to young people up to the age of 25. From 2023/24, it is expected that all ICSs will offer their keyworking services to young people up to the age of 25. In addition, by 2024, NHS England are due to deliver the "Keyworker Code of Practice".

The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, Paragraph 10 - The Most Suitable Provider Process has been used to procure this service.

This is a notice to inform the market of the intention to award a contract for Keyworker Function for Ipswich and East Suffolk and West Suffolk localities to Suffolk County Council. This is a new contract for an existing service to be delivered by an existing provider of this service.

Keyworkers support children and young people; identified via the Suffolk DSR, with the most complex needs and their families and carers to make sure families are fully involved in their plans, feel listened to and informed, plans are personalised, and they have the support they need at the right time, in a co-ordinated way.

By March 2024 children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both aged 0-25 years with the most complex needs will have a designated keyworker. Keyworkers support children, young people and their families to avoid admission to a mental health hospital wherever possible. Where admission to hospital cannot be avoided, the keyworker should remain as a core member of the professional network throughout the person's period of admission and be included in CETRs and support through to discharge.

The contract will be awarded with an initial contract term of 5 years (60 months) and a potential extension period of up to 2 years (24 months), maximum term of 84 months (the "Proposed Contract"). The total aggregated value of contract will be £2,590,000 which is an annual value of £370,000 (the "Proposed Contract"). The contract value will be subject to annual inflation/deflation at national NHS rates as prescribed in NHS Payment Scheme guidance. Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach 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.