Service Modernisation

Service Modernisation: process, milestones, time-frames

Key stages in the Service Modernisation process are detailed below. Each stage contains relevant links to available supporting documents and references. Additional supporting materials e.g. documents and presentations, will be posted as they become available.

Stage 1: Treatment Plans and Needs Assessments
Stage 2: Board Papers
Stage 3: Consultation and Feedback
Stage 4: Expressions of Interest Advertisement/Memorandum of Information
Stage 5: Provider Briefing/Information Day
Stage 6: Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
Stage 7: Invitation to Tender (ITT) and Issue of Service Specification
Stage 8: Contract Award, Implementation of New Contract - Go Live Phase
Stage 9: Contract Commencement/ Management/Performance Evaluation - Ongoing

Introduction

Across Lancashire adult drug and alcohol services are being modernised.

This represents a unique opportunity to design services which better meet the needs of local populations, improving access and delivering equitable provision, all based around the recovery model.

The re-commissioning modernisation process will incorporate Adult Treatments Tier 2 and 3 for Drugs and Alcohol (not Tier 1 and 4). It will also include Criminal Justice in East and Central Lancashire Localities and also IDTS (Prisons) in Central.

The process, which is totally transparent, involves removing the legacy of earlier piece-meal commissioning processes, structural inequalities and various inefficiencies due to the use of multiple contracts.

New contracts will be signed with a single lead provider for each locality in the county – North, East and Central Lancashire, initially for a 3 year period, with an option to extend for a further 2 years, subject to performance.

Contract start dates are:

North Locality - October 1st 2009
East Locality - April 1st 2010
Central Locality - October 1st 2010

Treatment for substance misuse helps individuals improve their health and life chances. It helps reduce levels of crime and impacts positively on communities and future costs to the NHS and wider society.

For many years the major effort within treatment services has been the concentration on the stabilisation of the individual, for example by maintaining those who have a heroin addiction on a regular dosage of a substitute drug like prescribed methadone.

The challenge of the new drug strategy is to enable more addicts to leave treatment in a way that ensures they can sustain their recovery for the benefit of themselves, their families and communities.

This can only be achieved successfully by creating a treatment service which puts the individual at the heart of the system, giving them a full range of support which encourages them to move from problem substance misuse towards a drug or alcohol free life as a fully active member of society.

The recovery model also actively encourages and involves other statutory and voluntary agencies which are not part of the NHS in reaching out to and supporting the individual with substance misuse problems. This includes for example bodies like County Councils, District Councils, the Police, Probation and Prisons services.

Putting the individual at the heart of the treatment system to help them achieve their full potential is a major cultural change in the way services are provided.

Stage 1: Treatment Plans and Needs Assessments

This is a vital first component of the commissioning cycle and framework, designed to highlight gaps and inform the development of initiatives to meet those gaps. It also ensures current services are performance managed effectively and are flexible enough to evolve in line with need.

The Needs Assessment also enables LDAAT to benchmark how it is meeting its strategic objectives and to share best practice across the partnership.

Stage 2: Board Papers

These Board Papers describe the context for the modernisation of the community drug and alcohol treatment services in North, East and Central Lancashire and signal the corporate and financial commitment of each primary care trust to the process.

Stage 3: Consultation and Feedback

Modernisation proposals are subject to an engagement and consultation process with stakeholders including for example; service users, the families of service users and concerned others, providers, staff, GPs, pharmacists, the County and Borough Councils and the local public.

Published documents detailing the findings of the consultation process are available via the links below. New documents will be added to this section when the consultation process for that locality is complete.

Stage 4: Expressions of Interest Advertisement/Memorandum of Information

Initial expressions of interest from qualified providers are sought by placing advertisements in the national lead publications for the sector, Drink and Drugs News and The Guardian. These are intended to encourage responses from as wide a range of organisations as possible.

Interested providers are invited to download a Memorandum of Information (MoI). This document provides an overview of:

Procurement and its objectives
The Commissioners service requirements
Procurement process
Procurement commercial framework
Procurement governance and administration requirements

The purpose of the MoI is to provide potential bidders and relevant organisations with sufficient information on the Procurement to enable them to make an informed decision about whether they wish to participate.

The MoI will also outline Critical Success Factors (CSFs) which the provider will be expected to meet throughout the life of the contract, covering for example issues around; access, capacity, quality, value for money and affordability and integration with the local healthcare community.

Stage 5: Provider Briefing/Information Day

To ensure all potential Bidders are given an equal opportunity to fully understand the requirements of the Commissioners and have an equal opportunity to bid, a Bidder Information Event/Day will be held. This event will aim to inform all potential bidders of the procurement principles, processes and next steps. The date for this event and the response email address to confirm attendance will be highlighted in the expressions of interest advertisement and the associated Memorandum of Information.

Stage 6: Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)

All parties attending the Information day will be issued with the PQQ. The PQQ is designed to evaluate the capacity, capability and eligibility of potential bidders to provide the services required. It provides detailed information on the PQQ process, guidance on how to complete it and a series of questions which must be answered satisfactorily. Responses must be received before the stated deadline.

A clarification question and answer process operates during the PQQ stage.

PQQ evaluation includes details of the selection criteria and scoring process used and potential bidders will be told whether or not they have been short listed to progress to the next stage.

Stage 7: Invitation to Tender (ITT) and Issue of Service Specification

Bidders invited to proceed to the ITT stage for the Service will be issued with the commissioners ITT documentation. The detailed requirements of the Commissioners, the information required from Bidders and the timescales for submission of bids will be included in the relevant ITT. Also further details of the procurement process will be set out in the ITT, together with details of how tenders will be scored.

Part of the ITT documentation supplied at this event will be a Service Specification containing a detailed description of what is expected from the Bidder and covering such issues as; Governance; Service User, Carer and Family Involvement; Marketing and Communications; Services to be Delivered; Performance Management; Workforce Development; Facilities; Compliance; Required Policies, Procedures and Protocols.

Stage 8: Contract Award, Implementation of New Contract - Go Live Phase

Based on the outcome of the ITT evaluation and subsequent Bidder presentations, the Tender Panel will forward recommendations to the LDAAT and relevant Primary Care Trust Board for consideration. Following Board approvals, the Commissioners and the recommended Bidder will enter into a formal contract.

Stage 9: Contract Commencement/ Management/Performance Evaluation - Ongoing

Following the awarding of the contract and in accordance with the chosen Providers implementation plan, the Commissioners and Providers will work together towards service commencement at the agreed date, including overseeing the implementation of TUPE considerations. Oversight and performance management by the Commissioners will begin.

Lancashire Drug And Alcohol Team

Service Modernisation