PCD 1843 Acceptance of funds from MOJ for IOM Services & Extension of IOM Neurodiversity Service

Executive Summary:  

Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is the national multi-agency partnership that manages the most persistent, repeat offenders. In recognition of the importance of this work, Mayoral funding was allocated via PCD 1291 to deliver IOM interventions as part of work to address serious violence.   

The IOM mental health service launched in March 2023 with the aim of providing dedicated mental health support to IOM service users. The service was co-commissioned with London Probation, who contributed funding via a Memorandum of Understanding. In March 2024 MOPAC launched the Neurodiversity support service, similarly co-commissioned and funded in partnership with London Probation. 

Currently the IOM Mental Health service is funded until 31st March 2026, and the Neurodiversity service is funded until 30th September 2025. This decision will uplift the funding for the Mental Health service to provide additional mental health support to two Probation approved premises until 31st March 2026, at a maximum cost of £80,000. This decision will also extend the Neurodiversity service by six months until 31st March 2026 to align with the Mental Health service. The cost of the extension of the Neurodiversity contract is £273,497, taking the value of the contract to £1,070,833. 

This decision seeks approval to accept a further £200,000 from London Probation for the extension of the mental health service and £100,000 funding from London Probation for the extension of the neurodiversity service for 2025-26. 

This decision also seeks approval to accept up to £80,000 funding from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service for the expansion of the mental health service into approved premises. 

Recommendation:  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the acceptance of up to £200,000 funding from London Probation to fund the IOM mental health service during 2025/26. 

2. Approve the acceptance of up to £100,000 funding from London Probation to support the extension of the IOM neurodiversity service for 6 months from October 2025 to March 2026.  

3. To approve the acceptance of up to £80,000 funding from HMPPS, for the expansion of the IOM mental health service to include two London Approved Premises.  

4. Approve the extension of the neurodiversity service, until 31 March 2026, via a contract extension letter at a total cost of £273,497 

5. Approve the variation of the IOM mental health contract, to include the extra funding of £80,000 and expansion of the work into Probation Approved Premises. 

6. It is recommended that the Chief Finance Officer is granted delegated authority, to sign future documents in relation to this decision, including contracts and variations. Approval of this decision remains with DMPC as per MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation.  

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is the national multi-agency arrangement that manages the most persistent, repeat offenders in London. In recent years MOPAC has worked with partners to implement a new framework for IOM in London. The IOM framework is increasing consistency in London IOM and measuring outcomes and impact.  The framework has also re-focused IOM specifically on repeat offenders who in addition pose a medium to high risk of violent reoffending. The current London IOM caseload is overwhelmingly male, with the two biggest age groups being 25-34 and 35-44.  

2. Evidence clearly shows that persistent IOM offenders have a significant impact on the crime rate in London, with adult offenders with 11+ previous offences making up 38% of all adult reoffenders in London but committing over 75% of all adult proven reoffences. Violence is also increasing within this group, with the proportion of London IOM eligible cases with a violent index offence increasingly significantly between 2013 and 2020. In 2023, 78% of offenders convicted of an indictable offence had at least one previous caution or conviction, with 33% having 15 or more previous cautions or convictions. For these reasons reducing IOM reoffending is a specific aim of the new Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029.  

3. In addition to working with partners to implement the London IOM framework MOPAC committed funding totalling £2.1m over the three-year period 2022/23 to 2024/25 to support improved IOM interventions to reduce the risk of violence posed by this group. London Probation also contributed £300,000 in funding to co-commission Mentoring, neurodiversity, and mental health interventions. These are detailed in PCD 1291 and PCD 1514. 

4. MOPAC exercised an option to extend the IOM mental health Service to March 2026, detailed in PCD 1723, however the neurodiversity is set to expire in September 2025.  

5. Following the success of the IOM mental health service, HMPPS have shown interest in extending the service to support residents in two Probation Approved Premises in London, which typically house the highest risk nominals in London. Data and evaluations from other areas indicate that having improved mental health support in Approved Premises will offer significant benefits in terms of risk management, public protection and offender rehabilitation. HMPPS have committed to providing £80,000 to fund this extension of the existing IOM service to cover one full-time FMHP, who will work across two London Approved Premises to provide mental health support, addressing a key identified risk factor for high harm offenders.  

2. Issues for consideration  

1. This decision seeks approval to accept £200,000 in funding from London Probation to fund the IOM mental health service during 2025/26. 

2. This decision seeks approval to accept £100,000 in funding from London Probation to contribute to the IOM neurodiversity service. 

3. This decision seeks approval to accept £80,000 in funding from HMPPS to fund the variation of the IOM mental health service to provide support in Probation approved premises. This variation will be carried out by a contract variation letter which will pass all of this funding on to the existing IOM Mental Health provider, name Together for Mental Well-being Ltd.  

4. This decision seeks approval to extend the IOM neurodiversity service to 31st March 2026. The cost of the contract extension is £273,497. The remaining funding for this extension will be provided by MOPAC. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. This decision is seeking approval to accept £380,000 from London Probation, as well as extend the IOM Neurodiversity contract for six months and vary the IOM Mental Health contract. 

2. IOM Neurodiversity: The IOM Neurodiversity contract is due to end on 30/09/2025. This decision seeks approval to extend the contract until 31/03/2026 at a cost of £273,497. This would be funded using £173,497 of the 2025/26 IOM budget and £100,000 of the London Probation income. 

3. IOM Mental Health: The IOM Mental Health contract is in place until 31/03/2026. London Probation part fund this service and will be contributing £200,000 towards the service cost. In addition, this decision is seeking approval to vary the existing IOM Mental Health Service to include two Approved Premises at a cost of £80,000. This will be funded by London Probation. 

4. The extensions, contributions and variations are set out in the table below along with the funding: 

5. Payments for both services will be made in line with current arrangements in the contracts, following satisfactory performance and contract management meetings. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” This is a broad power and the extension of the pilot is aimed at deterring further offending, improving rehabilitation and enhancing crime detection all of which would enable the efficiency and effectiveness of the police service. In addition, under Schedule 3, paragraph 7, MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.  

2. Section 143 (1) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an express power for MOPAC, as a local policing body, to provide or arrange for the provision of (a) services that in the opinion of the local policing body will secure, or contribute to securing, crime and disorder reduction in the body's area and (b) services “intended by the local policing body to help victims or witnesses of, or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.”  

3. There are further relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.  

4. Commercial Issues  

5. This Decision requests approval to: 

• Accept funding from various sources as set out in Recommendations 1 to 3 through three separate variations to existing agreements held between MOPAC and London Probation or HMPPS. 

• Extend MOPAC’s existing contract with Third Sector Consortia Management LLP (MOPAC 957) for the provision of IOM Neurodiversity services at a value of £273,497, utilitsing an extension option included within the original procurement and award of contract.  

• Vary MOPAC’s existing contract with Together for Mental Well-being Ltd. (MOPAC 889) for provision of Mental Health services to increase the value by £80,000. The original awarded value of the contract was  £2,000,523 (including the now taken previous extension option) which will increase to £2,080,523 should the variation be approved.  

2. The original requirement was classified as an above threshold requirement and the contract was procured via open competition under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The extension modification to MOPAC’s existing contract with Third Sector Consortia Management LLP is permissible under Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the PCR 2015 as it was provided for in the initial procurement documents in a clear, precise and unequivocal way. The modification to vary the scope of service to MOPAC’s existing contract with Together for Mental Well-being Ltd is permissible under Regulation 72 (b) of the PCR 2015. A Modification Notice will be published following approval. 

3. The taking up of the extension option and associated variation has been agreed by the MOPAC Commercial Assurance Group on 28 April 2025. 

4. In accordance with 4.8 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the DMPC can approve the acceptance of inward donations and offers of funding into MOPAC.  

5. In accordance with 5.12 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the CEO can approve variations to contracts where the value of the variation is £50,000 to £499,999, which would include the contract extension referenced.  

6. In accordance with 4.13 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the DMPC can approve variations to contracts where the original agreement had a value of £500k+, and the variation is unforeseen, and variation value exceeds 10% of that value, and/or is for a period of more than 12 months.  

7. The actions proposed can be taken in compliance with procurement legislation and MOPAC’s Contract Regulations.  

6. Public Health Approach  

1. The provision of improved mental health services and neurodiversity services, which will include a trauma informed and evidence-based approach to reducing triggers for offending and violence, are entirely consistent with a public health approach to violence reduction. Details of this approach have been shared and agreed with the Violence Reduction Unit and GLA Public Health colleagues previously, when the services were first commissioned.  

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. For the purposes of this project, MOPAC are a joint data controller with HMPPS. 

2. MOPAC is a joint controller for the purposes of delivering an evaluation of the programme. The evaluation will require access to personally identifiable information (PII). Data will include standard PII covered under Article 6, special category data covered under Article 9 and criminal conviction and/or offence data under Article 10. 

3. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

4. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) has been produced to identify and minimise risks to data subjects. This document will be updated to reflect the extension of the mental health service to include work in approved premises. 

5. MOPAC also receives, processes and uses personally identifiable information for professional contacts in relation to this project. This is required for the management of the project and is processed under the lawful bass of public task, in the exercise of our official authority.  

6. All providers funded by MOPAC are required to comply with the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 

8. Equality Comments 

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. The Neurodiversity service is dedicated to addressing existing disparities and (often hidden) disabilities, with a proactive approach to reducing social disadvantages and fostering positive health and personal outcomes. Culturally sensitive and inclusive interventions are at the core of the service, ensuring full access and engagement to service users who have previously faced barriers while trying to access mainstream support services.  

3. The mental health service has the explicit aim of addressing the health inequalities with the IOM cohort that lead to reoffending and multiple disadvantages, and the provider is required to deliver interventions that are culturally competent to encourage full access and engagement to those groups who may have previously struggled to engage with mainstream mental health services. The extension of this service to residents of Probation Approved Premises will enable more people to access the benefit and mitigate the above inequalities. 

9. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 PCD 1291 – Integrated Offender Management (IOM) co-commissioned services 

• Appendix 2 PCD 1514 – Integrated Offender Management (IOM Neurodiversity and Mentoring services) 

• Appendix 3 PCD 1723 – CJS 2025-2029 Commissioning Decision