Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Devon County Council
County Hall, Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
UK
Contact person: Miss Grace Evans
Telephone: +44 1392383000
E-mail: grace.evans@devon.gov.uk
NUTS: UKK4
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.devon.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.devon.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
CP2506-24 Health and Wellbeing Services into Atkinson Secure Children's Home
Reference number: DN719157
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85140000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This notice is placed to set out Devon County Council’s intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to recommission the following health and wellbeing services into Atkinson Secure Children’s Home:
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
• Nurse Service
• Speech and Language Therapy Service
The contract will commence on 1st April 2025 and will expire on 31st March 2029.
There is an option to potentially extend the contract for a further 3 periods of 12 months.
Atkinson Secure Childrens Home is a purpose-built welfare only secure unit in Exeter which
is managed by Devon County Council and provides full residential care, healthcare, and
education on site in dedicated facilities. The home is registered for 8 young people who are
aged between 10 and 17 years-old and accommodated under section 25 of the Childrens Act
1989. The home has been operating for over 30-years and young people are placed with in
Atkinson due to either having a history of absconding or are likely to abscond, likely to suffer
significant harm or likely to injure themselves or others.
Atkinson secure children’s home provides a nurturing and caring atmosphere which develops
young people’s confidence and self-esteem. All staff are trained in attachment, trauma and
restorative approaches enabling the home to effectively manage behaviour and repair
relationships. In the most recent Ofsted Inspection in September 2023, Atkinson Secure
Childrens Home received a grading of ‘Outstanding’, prior to which they had maintained a grading of ‘Good’ for 6-years.
Feedback following the inspection noted that “The secure children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.”
Devon County Council currently have a section 10/75 agreement with NHS England to
commission the health and wellbeing services. The section 10/75 in place in this arrangement constitutes a transition between the previous Section 10 and an intention to align to Section 75 agreements throughout the secure estate.
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Childrens Act 2004 and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 the Local Authority must make arrangements to promote co-operation between the authority and the authority’s relevant partners. These arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of children in the authority’s area relating to their physical and mental health and emotional well-being. For this purpose, NHS England is a relevant partner of the local authority with an area of responsibility which falls within the area of the authority.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is placed to set out Devon County Council’s intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to recommission the following health and wellbeing services into Atkinson Secure Children’s Home:
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
• Nurse Service
• Speech and Language Therapy Service
The contract will commence on 1st April 2025 and will expire on 31st March 2029.
There is an option to potentially extend the contract for a further 3 periods of 12 months.
Atkinson Secure Childrens Home is a purpose-built welfare only secure unit in Exeter which
is managed by Devon County Council and provides full residential care, healthcare, and
education on site in dedicated facilities. The home is registered for 8 young people who are
aged between 10 and 17 years-old and accommodated under section 25 of the Childrens Act
1989. The home has been operating for over 30-years and young people are placed with in
Atkinson due to either having a history of absconding or are likely to abscond, likely to suffer
significant harm or likely to injure themselves or others.
Atkinson secure children’s home provides a nurturing and caring atmosphere which develops
young people’s confidence and self-esteem. All staff are trained in attachment, trauma and
restorative approaches enabling the home to effectively manage behaviour and repair
relationships. In the most recent Ofsted Inspection in September 2023, Atkinson Secure
Childrens Home received a grading of ‘Outstanding’, prior to which they had maintained a grading of ‘Good’ for 6-years.
Feedback following the inspection noted that “The secure children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.”
Devon County Council currently have a section 10/75 agreement with NHS England to
commission the health and wellbeing services. The section 10/75 in place in this arrangement constitutes a transition between the previous Section 10 and an intention to align to Section 75 agreements throughout the secure estate.
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Childrens Act 2004 and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 the Local Authority must make arrangements to promote co-operation between the authority and the authority’s relevant partners. These arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of children in the authority’s area relating to their physical and mental health and emotional well-being. For this purpose, NHS England is a relevant partner of the local authority with an area of responsibility which falls within the area of the authority.
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The initial contract period is 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2029 (48 months).
There is an option to extend for a further 3 periods of 12 months at the Authority's discretion, as follows:
1st April 2029 - 31st March 2030
1st April 2030 - 31st March 2031
1st April 2031 - 31st March 2032
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
27/02/2025
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Award decisions will be recommended by Devon County Council’s Children’s Strategic Commissioning team, with key decision makers being:
Senior Commissioning Manager of Children’s Services, Manager Secure Accommodation, Assistant Commissioner of Children and Young People and Non-Custodial Services, and Senior Commissioning Manager of Children and Young People and Non-Custodial Services
The specifications can be found on Supplying the South West (see section I.3 of this notice for details on how to access the opportunity), along with a Provider Information Request (PIR) and Basic Selection Criteria Questionnaire (BSCQ) document. Interested providers must complete and return this document before noon on 24th January 2025. Those who meet the mandatory criteria set out within the BSCQ may be invited to complete and submit the Further Provider Information Request to provide the further information required to determine the most suitable provider.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract 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 do not apply to this award.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
09/01/2025