Experts at Hand Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy

This is a Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Intended Approach Notice. This notice is subject to Regulation 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.<br/><br/>For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a procurement via Procurement Act 23 or Public Contract Regulations 2015.<br/><br/>West Sussex County Council is releasing this Intended Approach Notice as per the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) using the Most Suitable Provider route. As per schedule 5 under Regulation 10 of the PSR, please see the following information below:<br/><br/>1. WSCC is intending to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process to award a contract.<br/><br/>2. The contract title: Experts at Hand Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. The contract reference: I-89465.<br/><br/>3. We are seeking speech and language therapists of varying bands to work across our 8 LIN (Local Inclusion Networks) Hubs. The roles will be varied, working as part of the core LIN Team and the wider inclusion network to offer a range of supportive measures to local mainstream settings. The LIN will:<br/>- Engage in regular planning with individual settings and school locality groups to understand need and create a proactive response to that need. Therapist activities here might include (but are not limited to) training, observation, workshops, collaborative problem-solving, environmental audits and contribution to person-centred or setting-centred planning alongside partners.<br/>- Respond to direct requests for support for specific children/cohorts. Therapist activities here might include (but are not limited to) assessment, direct intervention, support in delivering programmes and signposting.<br/>- Offer a priority pathway for urgent situations. Therapist activities here will involve working collaboratively with the LIN core team to respond in a flexible, creative and collaborative manner to the specific situation. <br/><br/>As well as direct work the role will be embedded in the core LIN team, working in partnership to really understand the needs of the local area and working together to create responses to inclusion challenges. A commitment to working holistically and in partnership with all stakeholders supporting children with SEND will be essential. The LIN/Experts at Hand offer is a new and innovative initiative and as such once therapists join the team their expertise and knowledge will be key to continuing to develop the model. <br/><br/>Demonstrating the positive impact of the work of the LIN will be imperative and as such all delivery will be closely monitored and reviewed, keeping children/young people, families and settings at the centre and regularly evaluating what difference the work has made to all these partners.<br/><br/>4. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intended approach notice under the PSR.<br/><br/>5. Should you wish to be considered, written representations should be sent to [email protected] ensuring the following details are referenced:<br/><br/>Project reference: I-89465<br/><br/>Project title: Experts at Hand Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy - Most Suitable Provider process<br/><br/>This PSR MSP Intended Approach Notice will be published on 6 November 2026 and will be open to representations until 12pm, 20 November 2026. Additional information: This PSR MSP Intended Approach Notice will be published on 6 November 2026 and will be open until 12pm, 20 November 2026.<br/><br/>This notice is published by West Sussex County Council pursuant to Regulation 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 as notice of its intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process.<br/><br/>The requirement concerns the procurement of Experts at Hand Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. The proposed contract term is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027. The total contract value is £1,000,000 which is anticipated to be split into two contracts, one for Speech and Language Therapists and one for Occupational Therapists. The split of the funding is not confirmed at this time. <br/><br/>West Sussex County Council considers the MSP process appropriate because Direct Award Processes A, B and C do not apply.<br/><br/>This notice is being published for at least 14 calendar days before assessment of providers against the key criteria. Any provider not presently known to West Sussex County Council that believes it is capable of delivering these services may ask to be considered as a potential provider.<br/><br/>In accordance with the Provider Selection Regime, West Sussex County Council will assess likely providers against the five mandatory key criteria and the basic selection criteria.<br/><br/>The key criteria to be applied in order of importance to this procurement are:<br/><br/>1. Value<br/>2. Improving Access<br/>3. Collaboration<br/>4. Quality<br/>5. Social Value<br/><br/>The basic selection criteria will be applied on a pass/fail basis and will include:<br/><br/>- suitability to pursue the activity, including relevant regulatory and accreditation requirements;<br/>- economic and financial standing, where relevant; and<br/>- technical and professional ability.