Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for Southend, Essex and Thurrock

The purpose of this Notice is to confirm the award of a contract to North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) to provide Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across Southend, Essex and Thurrock. This award is being made following the successful completion of a procurement process.

The contract advert (reference 2021/S 000-009636) was published by NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on behalf of the 7 CCGs within Essex and the 3 Local Authorities. Since this contract notice was published, the CCGs have been replaced with 3 Integrated Care Boards in line with the Health and Care Act 2022.

The contract began on 1st April 2022 for a period of 7-years with the option to extend for a further 3-years. The aggregate maximum value of the contract is £430m. The total price for the initial 7-year period is £154,885,967.

The purpose of this Notice is to confirm the award of a contract to North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) to provide Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across Southend, Essex and Thurrock. This award is being made following the successful completion of a procurement process.

The Thrive Model has been developed nationally. This has been endorsed by the 'Future in Mind' report,

it is therefore the intention to replicate a version of the Thrive Model in delivering the new service. The

model is a blend of Tier 2 and Tier 3 services with a seamless progression up or down for the service

user.

All children and families will receive support and services which are appropriate to their needs. For many

children this is likely to be community based, and should be easily and quickly accessible. Most young

people requiring CAMHS will present with mental health problems that are causing significant

impairments in their day-to-day lives. These presentations can result in both the need for scheduled

and/or unscheduled care.

CAMHS will be available for all children and young people who are aged 0 - 18 (25 if SEND), and who

meet the agreed CAMHS referral criteria. The eligibility criteria is set out within the service specification.

The current service has in place the following teams, which are expected to be replicated in this new

service:

• 7 Community Hub Teams
• 3 Intensive Support Teams (crisis teams)
• 1 Eating Disorder Service
• 1 Learning Disability with MH Service
• 1 Single point of access (SPA) service
• 1 out of hours service (out of hours SPA)

The service will also include the provision of the following:

• Eating disorder including ARFID & FREED
• Crisis care/Home treatment team
• CAMHS with LD and CAMHS with ASD Service
• Youth offending provision (there will be a requirement to work connectively with the POWER

programme)

• There will be a comprehensive 0-25 support offer that reaches across mental health services for CYP

and adults in all STPs/ICSs, the expectation is that this contract will fulfil this up to age 18 and will work

connectively with our adult providers

• CYP IAPT
• Expansion of the single point of access to field more enquiries from GP, schools and other

professionals

• Inclusion onto the AMHP rota for qualified professionals

And locally agreed care pathways for:

• LAC Service (for CYP who are placed in local authority and have a diagnosable mental health condition,

some of which will be placed in Essex from other areas)

• Early intervention in psychosis in conjunction with the current EIP provider
• information and advice at a minimum for emotional wellbeing and mental health referrals
• Mental Health Schools Team (links between the teams and the service)
• Community Learning Disability Team (provided by another provider) for those with a requirement for

MH input

• Paediatric pathways such as tics, Tourette’s, ASD, PDA

As a part of the contract North East Essex have commissioned an additional Children and Young People's Mental Health Early Intervention Service (CYP EIS). The aims and objectives of this service are to provide:

• An easy to access early intervention service for Children and Young people from age 10-18 years of

age (up to 25 years of age if SEND) who meet the scope of this service

• Mental and emotional support through a range of interventions suited to the need and patient centred

requirement of the service user

• Informal non-statutory advocacy when required to all young people supported by this service and who

do not meet criteria for Independent Mental Health Advocacy service.

• An early intervention disordered eating service
• Seamless transitions of care
• Partnerships with relevant stakeholders to improve outcomes for people using this service.