The North East Essex crisis alternative will be a key element of the 24-7 Mental Health Crisis Response and Care service covering Colchester and Tendring.

The provision is strongly linked with national and local strategy, inclusive of specifically aligning with 2 of the Crisis Concordat objectives; 'urgent and emergency access to crisis care', and 'quality of treatment and care when in crisis.' The intention is to offer sanctuary for people experiencing mental ill-health and mental distress by providing a calm safe space, practical and emotional support and an alternative to admission if appropriate across 3 pathways: a) require support with wellbeing & therapeutic engagement to reduce stressors - Community Wellbeing Support b) escalating towards crisis point & wish to access early intervention - Individualised Support c) care in a mental health crisis, have had a mental health triage, yet only require access to support, de-escalation & assessment by Individualised Support pathway - 'Urgent Care Alternative' Providers are encouraged to work in partnership to deliver the service across the locality.

A key relationship is likely to be with Essex Partnership University NHS Trust (EPUT) to develop protocols and clinical oversight of the hub model, offering advice, support, and formal triage and assessment.

Other key relationships will be with providers already working within the system and these will need to be strong and effective.

SNEE ICB will be hosting a market engagement event prior to the launch of the procurement.

This notice is to inform providers of the intention to undertake a competitive process to secure a Provider(s) for this service.

The geography of north east Essex means there may need to be more than one site to deliver this service and there is a drive to integrate within neighbourhoods.

Therefore, the ICB is interested to explore the potential for providers from all sectors to work together.

The ICB is likely to undertake market engagement virtually during Jan 2024.

The second purpose for this notice is to raise awareness of this process to enable providers to start discussing how they could deliver this service in partnership.

To support these discussions a draft specification will be released through the Intend portal along with the date for the engagement event.

To register interest in this service and receive further information, a draft service specification, when ready, and engagement event details, please register on the In-tend portal via the following address and express an interest in the NEE Crisis Alternatives opportunity under current tenders. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/snee-icb/aspx/Home As an interested provider of mental health services within the north east Essex locality you may wish to view and apply to the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Support Framework - further details are within this link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/77d47ee3-da68-4b4b-a4d8-ed14b10c7cca