Mitie’s Care & Custody Health business has been awarded a new £2.4m contract with Leicestershire Police.
The two-year partnership, with optional two-year extension, will see Mitie deliver a forensic medical service for Leicestershire Police: screening, assessing and treating people who are in police custody, within a safe, clinical environment.
This includes the delivery of healthcare and forensic medical examination service for victims attending the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
The SARC is a special facility where any victim of rape or serious assault can receive immediate medical care, police intervention (if the service user chooses to report the crime) and other support services. It is an independent service available on a 24/7, 365 days per year basis.
Mitie was awarded the contract based on its experience of delivering an innovative and effective nurse-led delivery model, which supports more timely and consistent forensic medical and sexual assault examinations. Its nurse-led approach also provides tailored support and better health outcomes for those in police custody with varying vulnerabilities, including mental health issues, learning disabilities and substance misuse.
Seb Stewart, Managing Director at Mitie, commented: “We're delighted to be working with Leicestershire Police to deliver effective healthcare and forensic medical examination services which will support better outcomes for both the police and service users”
“Our team of dedicated, specialist staff will deliver a professional and sensitive service in a safe, clinical environment, ensuring that each and every referral receives a timely response and the most appropriate professional care to meet the assessed need.”
Millie Gant, the SARC’s Manager commented: “We’re looking forward to working with Mitie from the 1 April 2017. The nurse-led delivery model, the provision of dedicated contract and clinical management, together with a separate sexual offence rota to custody, should ensure that detainees and victims of crime receive a service that is timely and more suited to their individual needs.
Lord Willy Bach, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “It’s absolutely imperative that victims of crime, particularly those who have suffered serious violence and sexual assaults, have access to a sensitive, highly professional and swift service. I have made it clear that I expect all victims of crime to receive a first class support service in whatever form that takes. I hope that as part of my ongoing scrutiny of victims’ services I will be able to gain feedback from those who have received medical support so that we can continue to learn and deliver best practice.
“Of course, it’s also important that such services deliver value for money, and to that end we will be monitoring the delivery of these services very closely.”
