Drug and Alcohol Community Service

The Authority wishes to establish a Contract for the provision of Drug and Alcohol Services. The key requirements of the service are:

A community-based adult substance use service responsive to identified local needs (to include, but not be limited to and according to emerging needs: alcohol, opiate, non-opiates, psychoactive substances, prescription and over the counter drugs as well as image and performance enhancing drugs) which will provide both medical and psychosocial interventions for harm reduction and recovery. (T2, T3 and providing access to T4 provision for adults and young people)

Manage Shared Care provision in GP practices.

Ensure specific provision for complex needs (including co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnosis).

A holistic young people's substance use service (for people up to the age of 25 years) with clear and seamless transitional arrangements.

Support for families and carers of people using drugs and alcohol.

Access to residential detoxification and rehabilitation and management of the placement budget.

An effective and responsive outreach and harm reduction offer for all, whether in treatment or not, including direct delivery and pharmacy provision, naloxone programme, synthetic opioids preparedness and drug related death prevention.

Manage pharmacy contract. Community pharmacists provide a service to dispense, support and monitor the consumption of opiate substitute treatment medication. And the pharmacy needle exchange programme, this service provides access to sterile needles and syringes, and a sharps container for the return of used equipment to promote safe injecting practice and reduce transmission of infections.

A free programme of Drug and alcohol training and support for schools

A free programme of training to support the wider workforce increase early identification and referrals into treatment, reduce stigmatisation and better understand the needs of this vulnerable group of people.

Provide a blood borne virus programme ensuring hepatitis B vaccinations and hepatitis B and C screening are available to all entering or engaged with treatment services regardless of the presenting substance.

This is a services Contract. This procurement process will apply the flexibilities afforded under Competitive Process as defined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023

The contract aims to recommission and tender a standalone Public Health Substance Use service. This ensures continuity of service and improved outcomes for individuals dealing with issues caused by substance use.

Upholding B&NES core vision to work together to enable people from B&NES to grow up and live free from harms of substance use whilst maintaining the core aims of the B&NES drug and alcohol strategy (2022-2027): ‘To focus on prevention alongside early intervention, and support those that experience difficulties with substance use by having an effective treatment and recovery system’, Bath and North East Somerset Council is seeking to procure an all age Drug and Alcohol Community Service to support adults, children, young people and their families and affected others who have experienced difficulties linked to substance use.

The Council is looking for a service that is accessible, inclusive and outcomes-focused, empowering people to lead drug and alcohol harm free lives.

We are proposing the service will provide interventions to achieve outcomes to reduce harms caused by substances, enable, and maximise chances of recovery and offer support that enables universal and targeted services for the population.

We are seeking a service to provide a safe, effective, and high-quality community-based specialist treatment with a range of evidenced based substance use interventions that will support all aged people and their families achieving positive outcomes with respect to alcohol and other drug use; offending and criminal involvement; physical and psychological health and social functioning.

We are proposing that the service will provide specialist expertise, working directly with people and supporting, contributing, and enabling the wider system to effectively respond to the challenges of drug and alcohol use.

The community-based substance use service will be responsive to identified and emerging local needs (to include, but not be limited to: alcohol, opiate, non-opiates, psychoactive substances, prescription and over the counter drugs as well as image and performance enhancing drugs) and will provide both medical and psychosocial interventions for harm reduction and recovery.

We are seeking a service provider that will invest in strong collaboration with other services and partners in the community, have clear pathways in and out of different support services and health settings and be integrated in B&NES to reduce harm and build recovery in partnership and not in isolation.

We are proposing the Service will directly provide and / or manage provision of Tier 2, Tier 3 and the access to Tier 4 provision including;

• A holistic adult and young people’s substance use service (for people up to the age of 25 years) with clear and seamless transitional arrangements.
• Support for families and carers of people using drugs and alcohol.
• Access to residential detoxification and rehabilitation and management of the placement budget.
• Management of Shared Care provision in GP practices or alternative arrangement to fulfil the need of treatment in the community
• Ensure specific provision for complex needs (with emphasis on co-occurring mental health and substance misuse diagnosis).
• An effective and responsive outreach and engagement offer.
• A harm reduction offer for all, whether in treatment or not, with emphasis on Naloxone distribution and direct delivery of specialist needle exchange and pharmacy provision of needle and syringe programmes with easy accessibility including extended hours, varying locations etc.
• Management of the Community Pharmacy Contract which includes:

 a service to dispense, support and monitor the consumption of opiate substitute treatment medication

 A pharmacy needle exchange programme which provides access to sterile needles and syringes and sharps containers for the storage and return of used equipment to promote safe injecting practice and reduce transmission of infections.

 Waste management of used sharps containers.

• A programme of Drug and alcohol training for schools, and a programme of training to support the wider workforce to increase early identification and referrals into treatment, reduce stigmatisation and better understand the needs of this vulnerable group of people. Endorsement and communication of national campaigns and community engagement to promote the service and encourage healthy behaviours.
• Effective continuation of blood borne virus programme ensuring hepatitis B vaccinations and hepatitis B and C screening are available to all clients entering or engaged with treatment services regardless of the presenting substance.

The proposed contract length is for 5 years with +2 year extension option.

The contract will start in April 2025.

A market engagement event will take place on Thursday 9th May, 2.30pm – 4pm in Keynsham Civic Centre. Please could you confirm your interest in attending by emailing [email protected] with details of your name, organisation, position and telephone number. Additional information: The services are being procured under the Provider Selection Regime.

2 extension option(s) available, 0 taken; up to 24 months in total

Option: 12 months, from 2030-04-01, to 2031-03-31, 1 x 12 months

Option: 12 months, from 2031-04-01, to 2032-03-31, 1 x 12 months