Expressions of interest are being sought from Higher Educational establishments to undertake a systematic evaluation of the Children and Young People Integration Test Sites.

Expressions should provide a comprehensive response to the requirements set out in the attached document and should include a full cost profile, timescales, and outcomes. The amount of funding available for this project is £20,000.

The Cheshire and and Merseyside Mental Health Programme Board (C&M MHPB) have prioritised the development of a new model of care for the delivery of CAMHS Tier 4 services; this is focused on connection with local Place services, enabling their whole-system integration at a local level, as well as providing a single point of integrated access into specialist provision where required.

This is in line with the national direction of travel towards Establishing Steady State Commissioning, the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health and the Long Term Plan.

The new care model for CAMHS Tier 4 seeks to achieve the aspirations of each of these national drivers for the population of Cheshire and Merseyside, including the improved outcomes being delivered by existing New Care Model pilot sites across England.

The cornerstone of the Cheshire and Merseyside approach is Partnership and Collaboration. The approach aims to meet the needs of children and young people and families locally at Place; this is in line with the aspirations of the National Provider Collaborative and New Care Model Programme. The proposed model seeks to:      

• Ensure children and young people and their families receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place by:
  • Developing high quality alternative provision to inpatient care, built up at local Place level;
  • Reducing admissions which are outside of natural clinical flow.
  • Decreasing length of inpatient stay through appropriate, timely and effective discharge planning in collaboration with partner agencies.
• Eliminate avoidable harm;
• Provide intensive clinical support, advice and guidance to parents/families and the wider workforce through wrap around provision.
• Provide greater access, consistency, quality, equity and parity of provision of CAMHS Tier 4 services across C&M where this is still required.

Expressions of Interest, providing a comprehensive response and full cost profile to the requirements outlined in the project brief here, should be submitted to Dr Elizabeth Crabtree, Programme Director by email: liz.crabtree@alderhey.nhs.uk. The deadline is Friday 26^th November 2021.

Evidence of similar projects undertaken and any supporting information would be looked upon favourably.