Buckinghamshire Children and Young People (including vulnerable young adults 18-24) Drug and Alcohol Treatment & Support Service

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking to contract with a single provider suitably qualified and experienced to deliver the Children and Young People (including vulnerable young adults 18-24) Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Support Service for Buckinghamshire residents.

The overall aim of the service is to provide a flexible, high-quality community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment and support service for children and young people under 18, and vulnerable young adults 18-24, who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing the harmful effects of substance use:

• As a result of their own use of a range of illicit substances and/or alcohol, and/or

• As a result of another’s problem use of substances (including parental, sibling and other family/household member).

The Service shall consist of

Tier 2 – Targeted Support -Prevent and Deter

1. Early Intervention Support Service for Children and Young People who are beginning to use substances regularly (Early at-risk stage) and those who are using regularly (Late at-risk stage) from developing problem or harmful use.

2. Young People Drug Diversion Scheme in partnership with Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Council Youth Justice Team.

3. Comprehensive programme of support for children and young people who are experiencing the impact /effects of parental or other familial substance use.

Tier 3 – Structured Care Planned Treatment and Specialist Harm reduction

1. Structured care planned treatment for children and young people, where their substance use has reached the stage of harmful use and has become problematic with impairment in almost all areas of life.

2. Where appropriate, facilitated access to pharmacological/relapse prevention interventions

Tier 4- Inpatient Detoxification and Residential Rehabilitation

1. Where appropriate, facilitated access to T4 interventions.

The current service premises located in High Wycombe, owned by the Council, is available to Bidders who wish to take up this option.

The Council is of the view that TUPE may apply.

The contract start date is 1st October 2025 and the initial term ends on 30th September 2029 with an option to extend for a period of up to 42 months.