Enhanced Care Unit

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, acting as Lead Provider of the West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative, is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver an Enhanced Care Unit for children and young people requiring specialist inpatient mental health care.

The procurement is being managed by NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit and is being undertaken under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The service will provide specialist psychiatric inpatient care for children and young people aged 13 to 17 years, with referrals for those under 13 considered on a case-by-case basis. The unit will support young people registered with a GP in the West Midlands who require Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) level care, including those with co-existing Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), eating disorders and those requiring nasogastric (NG) interventions.

According to the specification, the service will provide a trauma-responsive, autism-sensitive therapeutic environment with specialist multidisciplinary care planning and risk assessment. The aim is to provide intensive treatment within a less restrictive setting, enabling young people to step down from highly restrictive care as soon as clinically appropriate while helping to prevent unnecessary admission to low secure services.

The provider and service must be located within the West Midlands and hold the appropriate Care Quality Commission registration for the delivery of mental health services.

Contract Information

Buyer – Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Deadline – 27 July 2026 – 5:00pm

Contract Value – Estimated total value: £48,415,150 excluding VAT
Annual value: £4,841,515 for one contract or £9,683,030 if two contracts are awarded.

Delivery Length – 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with the option to extend for up to a further two years.

Tender Link – Click here

Evaluation Criteria

The procurement will be evaluated using:

• Quality and Innovation – 35%
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability – 20%
• Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice – 25%
• Social Value – 10%
• Unseen Presentation – 10%
• Basic Selection Criteria – Pass/Fail
• Value – Pass/Fail

CQC Requirements

Providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide mental health services. Economic, financial and technical selection requirements are detailed within the procurement documentation.

The contract will be awarded as a subcontract under the West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative Lead Provider arrangement. Should the Lead Provider change following the planned procurement for specialised CAMHS services from April 2027, existing subcontracts will transfer to the new Lead Provider under the same contractual terms.

This opportunity reflects continued NHS investment in specialist inpatient mental health services for children and young people across the West Midlands, supporting intensive therapeutic care for those with the most complex mental health needs.

Never Miss a Care Sector Opportunity

From contract opportunities and framework launches to sector news and procurement updates, The Daily Round delivers daily insights designed for care providers, suppliers, and sector leaders.

Sign up to The Daily Round Daily Bulletin to receive the latest opportunities and healthcare procurement news directly to your inbox.

If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at editorial@dailyround.news