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CfT: HRB - Research contract to develop monitoring framework for the implementation of the Health Diversion Scheme (drugs policy)

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Addendum ID	Title	File	Description	Lang.	Document Versions	Actions
N/A	ESPD	ESPD - CFT 6115580.docx	ESPD	EN
N/A	RFT Research contract to develop monitoring framework for the implementation of the Health Diversion Scheme (drugs policy).	Research contract to develop monitoring framework for the implementation of the Health Diversion Scheme RFT.docx	The HRB is a State Agency under auspices of the Department of Health, the remit of the agency is to support and fund health and social care research and provide evidence to inform policy and practice. , we are motivated and inspired by our vision – better health through excellent research, data, and evidence. The HRB’s mission is to support research that improves people’s health, promotes evidence-informed care and creates solutions to societal challenges. An overview of the HRB’s objectives and activities may be found in HRB Strategy 2021-2025: Health research – making an impact (https://www.hrb.ie/strategy-2025/). 1. Background 1.1 The Programme for Government ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’ commits to divert those in possession of drugs for personal use to health services. 2. What is the health diversion scheme? 2.1 The health diversion scheme will offer compassion, rather than punishment, to people who use drugs, irrespective of what drugs they may be. Under the health diversion scheme, An Garda Síochána will divert a person found in possession of drugs for personal use to the HSE for a health screening and brief intervention (SAOR). The scheme will connect people who use drugs with health services and provide a pathway to recovery, avoiding a criminal conviction. 2.2 There are two stages in the health led approach whereby a person in possession of drugs determined by An Garda Síochána to be for personal use; • On the first occasion they would be referred by An Garda Síochána to the HSE for a SAOR health screening and brief intervention. • On the second occasion, An Garda Síochána would have discretion to make a further referral for a SAOR health screening and brief intervention, or would have discretion to issue an adult caution, if applicable. • On any subsequent arrests for possession of drugs for personal use a person would progress through the criminal justice system. • 2.3 Following the person’s attendance, they will be required to present to the investigating member confirmation of their attendance at the SAOR health referral within a defined period of time. If they do not do so, the investigating member may proceed the person through the criminal justice system. 2.4 SAOR (Support, Ask and Assess, Offer Assistance, Refer) is the HSE model for delivering a health screening and brief intervention for drug and alcohol use. SAOR supports health workers to deliver brief interventions and to facilitate those presenting with more complex needs to access treatment programmes in line with the National Drug Rehabilitation Framework. The HSE is recruiting a nationwide network of SAOR practitioners to deliver the health diversion scheme. 3. Aims of the Health Diversion Scheme 3.1 As set out above, the health diversion scheme will offer compassion rather than punishment to people who use drugs, irrespective of what drugs they may be. Reflecting this approach, there are three principles that should be addressed by this alternative approach namely that: i. a person should be afforded the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction for the possession of drugs for their personal use; ii. a person should be supported to avoid, reduce and recover from drug-related harm; iii. a person with problematic drug use should be referred to appropriate treatment or other support. 3.2 The overall implementation of the health diversion scheme is being overseen by the Health Diversion Scheme Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Group, which includes representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Justice, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána. 3.3 A Research Advisory Group, which has been established as a sub-group of the Implementation Group, will oversee the process evaluation of the health diversion scheme. 4. Research service contract requirements The aim of the monitoring framework is to assess the operationalisation of the health diversion scheme. Initially this will involve a process evaluation that will address the following points: 1. Has the health diversion scheme been implemented as anticipated? 2. The identification of any barriers and enablers to the implementation of the scheme. 3. What has the impact been for the HSE and An Garda Síochána in implementing the scheme? 4. How will the implementation of the scheme be monitored and evaluated into the future. The process evaluation will also inform the deliberations of the Implementation Group regarding the provision of services and processes in both the HSE and An Garda Síochána. 5. Scope of the project 5.1 It is expected that the process evaluation will have both quantitative and qualitative inputs. 5.2 Quantitative Input With regard to the quantitative input the vendor will be expected to assess, inter alia, the indicators outlined in 1 to 12 below. Administrative data (such as the number of referrals made) will be made available to the researcher where possible. It should be noted that the indicators below are illustrative in nature and the researcher is expected to evaluate the availability, the quality of the data sources, and the appropriateness of the indicators as part of their work. The Research Advisory Group are available to provide support in this regard. 1. The number of times a referral (on first and second occasions) is made by An Garda Síochána to the HSE as part of the scheme. 2. The number of times a person refused a referral by An Garda Síochána. 3. The number of times a person did not accept that what they were in possession of was a controlled drug. 4. The number of times a referral was not made by An Garda Síochána in the public interest. 5. The number of times a referral was made by an arresting member that was not supported by the District Superintendent. 6. The number of times a referral was made without the person attending. 7. The number of times a referral was made, the person attended but did not confirm their attendance to An Garda Síochána. 8. The number of times a referral was made, the person did not confirm attendance and An Garda Síochána pursued a criminal conviction. 9. The wait times of individuals to access a SAOR appointment following their request for an appointment. 10. The wait lists per Health Area of individuals to access a SAOR appointment. 11. The demographics of those referred (age/gender/location/employment status/ethnicity). 12. The number of onward referrals to further drug and alcohol (or other) services following the SAOR appointment (including by breakdown by health sub-regions). 13. 5.3 Qualitative Input For the qualitative element, it is expected that a range of stakeholders will be engaged with by the researcher including the HSE and An Garda Síochána. Examples of approaches by the vendor include survey-based instruments, interviews, focus groups or other methods. Details of the proposed approach should be set out in the response and will be discussed during the kick off meeting with the vendor (see sequence of engagements below). It is expected that the vendor will engage with the stakeholders throughout the process evaluation. 6. Deliverables of the Process Evaluation 6.1. The process evaluation of the health diversion scheme provided by the vendor will deliver the following: a. Project Initiation Document, Project plan, RAID document inclusive of mitigation strategies b. An interim report on the implementation of the health diversion scheme. c. A final report on the implementation of the health diversion scheme after the first full year of implementation. d. A monitoring framework for the ongoing monitoring of the health diversion scheme. A separate Outcomes Framework has been developed by the HSE to facilitate the monitoring of the SAOR health intervention, from which data may also be available. 7. Anticipated Evaluation of the Scheme While this document sets out the parameters and outputs of the process evaluation of the scheme’s implementation, it is anticipated that a full evaluation will be conducted after the first year of implementation. The findings of the process evaluation will be an integral component of the full evaluation.	EN
N/A	Tender Structure XML - Cycle 1	c4t_6611580_1.xml	N/A	EN