Children and Young People (11-17) Specialist Autism Assessment and Diagnosis Service, and Neurodevelopment Disorder Referral Backlog Screening in Suffolk (excluding Waveney)

Text to be corrected in the original notice: Place of text to be modified: VI.3) Additional information Instead of: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by Monday 14th October . This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR. No conflicts of interest were identified as part of this procurement process Read: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under 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. This contract has now been formally awarded using the competitive process. No representations were made during the standstill period, and no conflicts of interest were identified or reported. Other additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under 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. This contract has now been formally awarded using the competitive process. No representations were made during the standstill period, and no conflicts of interest were identified or reported. Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, on behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is seeking a qualified and capable service partner to provide specialist Children and Young People (11-17) Autism Assessments and Diagnosis Services, and Children and Young People (11-17) Neurodevelopment Disorder (NDD) assessments in Suffolk (excluding Waveney).

Full details of the tender opportunity can be located via the original F02 Contract Notice (FTS Notice reference: 2024/S 000-020859). Tenders were awarded against the five key criteria outlined in the PSR Guidance.

Decision makers for this procurement were: Steven Worley - Head of Procurement Jo Zenzer - Contract Manager Fiona Whitfield - Deputy Service Director - Suffolk Children, Families and Young Persons Services

Service description and care pathway

The service is for Children and Young People aged 0- 18yrs who have been referred for a NDD assessment following primary care pre assessment screening and referral.

• The service will provide a clinical review of patient referral information and comprehensive screening of referrals based on ICD-11 criteria to identify if ASD or ADHD or both are indicated to be assessed. Clinically appropriate patients considering other developmental/differential factors that may be influencing current need will then be passed to an assessment service.
• Empower the patient and family to understand their needs via the outcome letter. This will include VCSE and SEN needs identified and recommendations i.e., psycho- educational advice given about the identified need and how the family can start to get the need supported if ASD or ADHD not identified.
• Screening based on review of referral form and supporting information ie EHCP, educational psychology assessment, other professional reports i.e., OT/SLT. Contact with school/ parent and child / referrer if further information required to make the assessment while considering differential diagnosis.
• Children and young people identified with additional needs i.e. mental health, learning difficulties or other neurodevelopmental presenting difficulties to complete an onward referral and/or signposting as appropriate.
• For patients who are not identified as requiring ASD/ADHD assessment signpost to resources for their unmet needs identified in assessment such as making recommendations for the family and/or school to consider.
• To identify if the CYP is requiring an ASD or ADHD or both assessments. To provide a clinical rationale as to which assessment is needed. If both are needed, to identify which presentation is most prominent and should happen first. To inform the referrer, copy to GP and family, and NSFT of the screening outcome (including rationale for assessment or why an assessment is not indicated).
• To signpost to other services such as educational support or assessment, mental health support, family-based support when this is indicated, for both those accepted and not accepted for an assessment.
• To alert the local authority, referrer, family and NSFT to any identified safeguarding concerns. To take responsibility for making any safeguarding referrals to the Suffolk County Council. To clearly document all processes followed, copied to NSFT and GP.
• To use professionally registered clinicians knowledgeable and experienced in the presentation of social communication, learning/educational, mental health, systemic/familial and sensory needs of people with and without NDD.
• For screening clinicians to routinely have access to appropriate supervision and wider discussion with other clinicians when needed.
• The service will follow the highest standards of data protection and data governance to ensure data confidentiality and security.
• Utilise evidence-based screening tools
• To ensure communication is in place with the CYP, their family, the GP and referrer where appropriate.
• The service will have the capacity to screen 1800 referrals within 12 weeks of start of contract

Location of service delivered.

The location of the service will be Suffolk with the provision of suitable space provided by the provider of the service (OR a virtual offer) and will operate at least Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm with weekend flexibility to meet user’s needs.

Standards and guidance

The service will comply with all relevant national standards and recommendations as detailed in the service specification. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/5G9AE7B5HC