Discharge to Assess Care Act Assessments

Southampton City Council invites potential suppliers to submit tenders for the provision of 150 Discharge to Assess Care Act Assessments over a 4-month period. Patients discharging from hospital requiring ongoing care should receive any assessment of need in a community setting, either their own home or an alternative environment (e.g.nursing or care home).

The expectation that ongoing assessment of need is undertaken in the community is termed "Discharge to Assess" (D2A) and is the default hospital discharge approach.

Each "care act assessment" will be in respect to new packages of care/placements and may include the undertaking of mental capacity assessments as required. The overarching aim of the service will be to: 

• Provide Care Act assessment and support planning services to a predefined number of service users as set out in chapter 6 of the Care Act Guidance 

• Provide Care Act reviews of support plans to a predefined number of service users as set out in chapter 13 of the Care Act Guidance 

Individuals being assessed will be adults aged over 18 discharging from hospital who require an assessment of need.

The provider will carry out person-centred, strengths-based assessments and reviews, along with associated support planning, in accordance with Care Act 2014 principles in line with Southampton City Council policies, which will be shared with the provider during service mobilisation.

The financial envelope for this procurement is up to £80,000 for the 4-month period covered by the initial contract term.

In the event that additional Care Act Assessments are required, and if future funding is available, the Council reserves the option to extend the contract term by up to two extension periods - each of two months - which would extend the financial envelope by up to a further £80,000 in total, (i.e., up to £40,000 for each period of extension) - such that the maximum value of the contract is potentially £160,000. Please see Document 3 Service Specification for more service related information. Due to the urgency for the service provision, this procurement will follow an accelerated Open type procedure and will be conducted in compliance with The Public Contracts Regulations 74-77, 2015, under the Light Touch Regime. It is essential that the service provider is able to mobilise service delivery to enable a contract start date of 18th July 2022.

Tender Documents

• Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder → — Tender notice
• Proactis Supplier Network → — Tender notice
• Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder → — Award notice