Issue - meetings

Background:

The report sought permission to award the procurement of the Medway Therapeutic Alliance Contract.

The Alliance would provide support to children and young people in Medway aged 5-18 years (inclusive of their 19th birthday) and up to the age of 25 years for those who were care leavers or those already in the service with special educational needs who require on-going therapeutic support.

An Exempt Appendix to the report provided a breakdown of the financial analysis in respect of this procurement project. 

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

North Kent Mind scored the highest in all areas of the evaluation, as shown below compared to the other competing providers.

·               Case Studies: Highest score of 4.

·               Presentation: Highest score of 4.

·               Social Value: 5.00%.

·               Price: 25%.

·               Quality Score: 67.50%.

·               Overall Score: 97.50%.

North Kent Mind overall provided a robust response to all the questions, which demonstrated they have an excellent understanding of the service specification and expected outcomes for children and young people in Medway. Evaluators all agreed that their bid was well written, with clear and concise answers that evidenced additional value and innovation over the length of the contract. Out of the fifteen questions, they scored a 4 (the highest score) for thirteen of these which means their responses were ‘superior’ as per the guidance and a score of 3 for two of the questions which indicates their responses were ‘comprehensive’.

North Kent Mind’s presentation was excellently produced and delivered, with their approach to the Medway Therapeutic Alliance innovative and person centred. Their attention to detail particularly in relation to their priority pathways for Children in Care, Care Leavers and Children and Young People within the Youth Justice Service were comprehensive and seamless.

North Kent Mind will be sub-contracting to six different providers, four of which are local which will promote the skills and employment particularly in the Medway Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector. In addition, North Kent Mind will be recruiting a Lived Experience Lead to enhance volunteer pathways, develop the skills of those with Lived Experience as well as increase employment.

Alongside Partnership Commissioners evaluators also consisted of Medway Children and Young People, Medway Parent Carer Forum, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board’s SEND and Looked After Children’s leads as well as Medway Council’s Head of Corporate Parenting and Youth Justice. These additional evaluators concluded North Kent Mind’s bid was comprehensive and would meet the existing and emerging needs of Children and Young People in Medway.

North Kent Mind propose the contract will have an underspend of £56,681.14 for the first year with an underspend of £64,239.61 for each of the subsequent years.