Liaison and Diversion Services in Surrey

NHS England South (South East) sought to commission Liaison and Diversion Services in Surrey.

There are high numbers of people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and other psychosocial vulnerabilities who enter the youth and criminal justice systems, who could be dealt with in the community, or diverted from the justice pathway altogether, as well as requiring early identification should custodial sentences be applied.

The aim of the L&D Service is to provide early intervention for vulnerable people (adults, children & young people) as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. The service will provide a prompt response to concerns raised by the police, youth offending teams, court staff or any other referral process (including self-referral), offering critical information to decision-makers in the justice system, in real time, when it comes to charging and sentencing. The service will also act as a point of referral and follow-up for service users, to ensure they can access, and are supported to attend, community treatment and rehabilitation appointments.

The primary focus of this service is improved outcomes for service users, not financial savings.

Key outcomes include: • Improved access to healthcare and support services for vulnerable individuals and a reduction in health inequalities, prioritising female detained persons and those under the age of 18. • Diversion of individuals, where appropriate, out of the youth and criminal justice systems into health, social care, education and training, or other supportive services • To deliver efficiencies within the youth and criminal justice systems • To reduce re-offending and/or escalation of offending behaviours

The service specification expanded on these outcomes, outlining what commissioners required of providers through the life of the contract

The total contract value of Liaison and Diversion Services is £1,128,965 per annum, with a total contract lifecycle value of £3,386,895 over 3 years, and a possible extension of an additional 2 years. The initial 3 year period will commence from 01 April 2020.

This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).