Councillor Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing, approved the award of twenty framework agreements for substance misuse residential rehabilitation services. This decision will ensure residents have access to appropriate rehabilitation centres based on their assessed needs and availability.

Substance Misuse Residential Rehabilitation Services

Councillor Lucia das Neves approved the award of twenty framework agreements to ten successful tenderers for the provision of substance misuse residential rehabilitation services. These agreements will run for four years, from 16 April 2026 to 31 March 2030, with a maximum potential value of £800,000 across all agreements. The actual cost will depend on the number of placements and bed nights used.

The decision was made following a procurement process conducted in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 12.03 and Regulation 11 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The Council has a statutory responsibility to commission these services, funded by the ring-fenced substance misuse element of the Public Health Grant. Residential rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment that aligns with the Borough Plan, aiming to improve health, reduce crime, and strengthen community resilience.

The report highlighted that approximately 2,000 residents are currently supported by drug and alcohol treatment services in Haringey. While most receive community-based treatment, around 2% require more intensive residential intervention, typically an eight-to-twelve-week placement. The selected providers were chosen based on their high overall scores in the tender evaluation, demonstrating their ability to meet the Council's requirements for quality, value, equity, and choice. The framework includes providers with facilities adapted for residents with disabilities, single-sex provision, specialist therapists, and expertise in areas such as LGBTQ+ support and chemsex.

The option to do nothing was rejected as it would compromise treatment outcomes, limit access to evidence-based support, and fail to meet statutory and grant-funded responsibilities. The procurement process involved market engagement to inform the commissioning approach and ensure the market had the capacity to deliver the Council's requirements. Seventeen organisations initially expressed interest, with twelve submitting a total of 22 tenders. After compliance checks and an evaluation against key criteria and price, twenty tenders were recommended for award.

The decision contributes to several strategic outcomes, including improving health and wellbeing by reducing harm from substance misuse and addressing health inequalities. It also aims to create a safer borough by reducing drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, and support economic and social resilience by enabling individuals to access employment and training. Furthermore, it supports children and young people by helping parents in recovery, reducing neglect, and improving outcomes for children.

The report also addressed equality considerations, noting the Council's Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. The commissioning and procurement approach was designed to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity for individuals with protected characteristics, who can face additional barriers to accessing effective treatment. The selected framework providers demonstrated robust approaches to promoting equity, dignity, and safety, with many offering specialist support for diverse needs. All services are required to report data on protected characteristics to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring Service, allowing for continuous monitoring of access, outcomes, and equity.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing. Sarah Hart, Senior Commissioner, and Nazyer Choudhury, Principal Committee Co-Ordinator, were in attendance. The meeting was filmed, and there were no apologies for absence or declarations of interest. No urgent business, deputations, petitions, or questions were raised. The exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of specific individuals was considered separately.

You can find more information in the Agenda frontsheet, the Public reports pack, and the Printed minutes.