Arden and Solihull Transforming Care Partnership (TCP) have developed a commissioning framework for community living for people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges. This forms part of our adult social care markets and commissioning resource.
Synopsis
Arden and Solihull Transforming Care Partnership1 (TCP) have developed a commissioning framework for community living for people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges. The framework was developed following extensive market testing and a comprehensive procurement process which included visiting services provided by short-listed providers. Four providers with high levels of expertise in delivering services for these individuals were selected and are now working closely with each other and with commissioners and health and care professionals to help people to leave hospital into their own accommodation with supported living.
The challenge
Background
An early priority for Arden and Solihull TCP was to develop a comprehensive understanding across the partnership of the needs of the people who remained in hospital. This work revealed a range of needs, including:
- Roughly half of people were on the autistic spectrum without a learning disability – it was recognised that there was a gap in support for this group locally.
- Many people had a forensic history.
- People had a range of mental health issues including depression, personality disorder and psychosis, and a number had an eating disorder.
- A number were considered to be at risk of re-offending post-discharge.
Overall, these individuals have high levels of complex needs and can be challenging to place with community packages. The TCP agreed that it was imperative to have good quality providers with a proven track record and the right skills, experience and models of care to support individuals locally. It set up a market testing initiative to bring a detailed understand of the extent, expertise and capacity of the market.
Testing the market
To test the market, potential providers were issued with a pack through Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire’s joint e-tendering system. The pack contained:
Information on the TCP journey so far and a summary of the local Transforming Care Plan.
Anonymised patient information including presenting need, potential community support required and discharge trajectories.
An outline of proposed service requirements. Service providers were asked to provide a summary of what they could provide locally in terms of specialisms, experience and cost. They were also asked for comments on the TCP’s proposals for the service. 31 providers responded – these included both existing local providers and those with a track record elsewhere who wished to extend into this area.
The following are examples of what providers said they could offer:
- Specialisms included working with children and young people, people with challenging behaviour and forensic needs, and people with complex needs including dementia.
- Experience included working with housing authorities, employing a positive behaviour support team or forensic practitioners, and implementing the SPELL framework for people on the autism spectrum (structure, positive, empathy, low arousal, link).
- Information on costs included both hourly and annual rates
Read the full case study
Arden and Solihull TCP: a framework for procuring community supported living