Kent County Council Awards Contract for Rehabilitation Services

Kent County Council has announced the award of a contract for rehabilitation services, specifically the East Kent Drug and Alcohol Service, to The Forward Trust. This contract, valued at £43,461,175.80, will commence on February 1, 2025, and run until January 31, 2029. The decision to award this contract follows The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 Direct Award C procurement procedure. The initiative aims to provide sustained support and specialist services to reduce the harm caused by drugs and alcohol in the community.

The Forward Trust was selected due to its exemplary performance on the existing contract, meeting the necessary health standards set forth by the council. The assessment indicated that the provided services have been effective and aligned with local public health agendas, supporting the overall improvement of health and well-being in Kent. The evaluation panel comprised several key decision-makers, and their scores confirmed that The Forward Trust is poised to continue delivering quality services satisfactorily.

The council emphasized the importance of these rehabilitation services in contributing to the local integrated model of care, as outlined in the KCC Strategic Plan 2022-26 and the Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028. As this contract is crucial for the community's health, the continuous provision of drug and alcohol services is fundamental to meeting public health objectives in Kent.