Westminster Complex Needs Assessment Centre

Westminster City Council (WCC) is undertaking market engagement and invites interested parties to complete a Market Sounding Questionnaire. The purpose of this exercise is to gather feedback from the market regarding the potential commissioning of a Complex Needs Assessment Centre for individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

This Market Sounding Questionnaire is not a call for tenders or a pre-qualification exercise. The purpose of the questionnaire is to gain insight into the market and understand the level of interest, expertise, and capacity to deliver an assessment-focused service for people with complex needs. The Authority is seeking feedback from organisations that may be able to provide accommodation alongside assessment and support services, or deliver assessment and support services in partnership with a suitable accommodation provider.

The proposed Complex Needs Assessment Centre would provide a safe and structured environment for individuals experiencing rough sleeping and homelessness who present with multiple and intersecting support needs, including mental health issues, substance misuse, physical health conditions, offending histories, and other forms of social exclusion. Operating through a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, the service would provide comprehensive assessment, stabilisation, triage and short-term intervention to identify the most appropriate pathway for each individual.

A key function of the Centre would be to undertake holistic assessments and coordinate multi-agency input to determine an individual's housing, support, health and social care needs. The service would work to reconnect service users with existing support networks, local authority areas where appropriate, specialist services, and sustainable accommodation options. Through effective triage and intensive case coordination, the Centre would support individuals to move swiftly into the most suitable accommodation and support pathway, reducing rough sleeping, repeat homelessness, and unsuccessful placements.

The Centre would act as a key gateway within Westminster's homelessness system, supporting informed decision-making, improving access to services, and ensuring that individuals with complex needs receive the right intervention at the right time. The service would work closely with statutory and voluntary sector partners to facilitate onward moves, strengthen partnership working, and improve outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

To inform its commissioning strategy, Westminster City Council is seeking market feedback through this questionnaire. The information gathered will help the Authority understand the market's capability and capacity to deliver a Complex Needs Assessment Centre, including accommodation provision where applicable, assessment and triage functions, reconnection activity, partnership models, workforce requirements, and approaches to supporting individuals with multiple disadvantage.

The Council would be seeking a contract of a minimum of three years with an option to extend for up to two years.

Value — Annual value £897,139, initial period £2,691,416 and for full contract period £4,485,693