Psychosocial Alcohol Intervention and Recovery Service (PAIRS) & Community Rehabilitation Contract - Announcement
Putting the voice of lived experience at the heart of commissioning in Essex
Written by Laurence Hickmott, Chief Executive of Essex Recovery Foundation
“Essex Recovery Foundation was established in 2019 to ensure that people who need drug and alcohol services in Essex have a real say in how they are designed and delivered.
From the outset, Essex County Council has supported our mission, championing the integration of lived experience into the commissioning process. Their commitment to co-production has paved the way for a future where the voices of those with lived experience are truly valued. We are grateful for their invitation to be part of this vital process.
Over the past eight months, our team of community researchers has been gathering your insights on local addiction services. These honest and valuable experiences have played a crucial role in shaping the renewal of two key drug and alcohol service contracts in Essex: the Community Rehabilitation Service and the Psychosocial Alcohol Intervention and Recovery Service (PAIRS).
With lived experience at the heart of the process, Essex Recovery Foundation influenced the service specifications to better meet the needs of the community. Our team had an equal voice in scoring and reviewing potential providers, and we will continue to play a key role in monitoring these services to ensure they deliver on their commitments.
Essex County Council has now announced the results of this process, and we are pleased to share that Open Road and the Children’s Society have been awarded the PAIRS contract, while Forward Trust has successfully retained the Community Rehab contract.
We would like to thank everyone in the Essex recovery community who contributed to surveys, focus groups, and discussions. Your input has been invaluable in shaping the services that will support people on their recovery journeys.
We understand that some of you may have questions about how these changes will affect you, particularly if you are currently using these services. Please be assured that your recovery remains our priority, and we will work collectively to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to the support you receive.
Essex Recovery Foundation looks forward to working with Open Road, The Children’s Society and Forward Trust to continue making Essex the best place to get well and stay well. We also extend our gratitude to the outgoing provider for their dedication and service over the past six years”
Answering your questions
Do you have a question about this announcement?
We will aim to answer all questions at our Community Voice event on Friday 21st March. If you are unable to make it, we will send our responses via email and on our website afterwards.