Specialist Mental Health Outreach Service for Rough Sleepers

The London Borough of Lewisham has completed the procurement process for a Specialist Mental Health Outreach Service for Rough Sleepers. This award was made under the Provider Selection Regime's Direct Award Process A, which allows for a direct award to a single provider due to the absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract, valued at £269,932, has been directly awarded to the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) for a duration of 12 months starting from the signing date of 3rd October 2025.

The procurement stage is 'Award', and the service is intended to fill critical gaps in the care of rough sleepers in the Lewisham borough, aligning with NICE guidance and national homelessness priorities. The location for this service is specified as the UKI44 region in the United Kingdom. This tender presents growth opportunities primarily for organisations in the health and social work services sector, particularly those with expertise in managing trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care systems.

Regional service providers with proficiency in working with local boroughs and delivering healthcare services to homeless populations would be well-suited for such contracts. Although the current award process was limited and conducted without a prior call for competition, businesses can take note of the areas of service adoption and potential collaboration opportunities with SLaM or similar organisations, to better position themselves in future procurement cycles. The procurement method utilised, which focuses on quality, innovation, social value, and integration, suggests future avenues for competitive participation.