Hackney Council is seeking providers for substance misuse services through a competitive tender process, aiming to boost treatment access and improve outcomes for residents. The Hackney Procurement Board approved the commencement of the tender at its meeting on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.

The council is establishing two frameworks: one for healthcare-related substance use services and another for non-healthcare services. These frameworks aim to increase the number of individuals accessing substance use treatment, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce substance-related harm. The council will measure the success of the frameworks by:

  • increasing the number of individuals accessing substance use treatment
  • increasing the number of individuals making significant improvements in treatment for substance use
  • increasing the number of individuals who use drugs and alcohol in harmful ways accessing employment and employment related activity e.g. training, access to courses and volunteering/social activities
  • decreasing the incidence of criminality and antisocial behaviour related to drug and alcohol use
  • increasing the number of individuals accessing substance use treatment services following an institutional stay where this is necessary
  • increasing the number of young people accessing substance use treatment and support
  • increasing the number of individuals using drugs and alcohol in harmful ways accessing treatment for other health related needs
  • increasing the number of rough sleeping individuals who use drugs and alcohol who access accommodation whilst working with services

The healthcare framework, valued at up to £11,155,000 (excluding VAT), will operate under the Provider Selection Regime and include 13 lots. These lots include:

  • Culturally Sensitive Substance Use Support- Black People
  • Culturally Sensitive Substance Use Support- South Asian
  • Culturally Sensitive Substance Use Support- Jewish Populations
  • Culturally Sensitive Substance Use Support- Gypsy Roma Traveller Populations
  • Culturally Sensitive Substance Use Support - Minoritised Ethnic Communities
  • Bespoke Intervention For Individuals Rejecting Core Substance Use Support
  • Support For Individuals Experiencing Intersectional Discrimination Engaging In Drug Use- Including Sexualised Drug Use, Self Procured Hormone Injecting And Other Forms Of Drug Use Which Individuals Feel Is Not Effectively Supported By Core Substance Use Services
  • Mental Health And Substance Use Co-Occurring Support
  • Gender Informed Substance Use Support Services For Women
  • Physical Health Support For Individuals Engaged In Harmful And Dangerous Substance Use
  • Assessment, Engagement And Support For Individuals Engaged In Harmful Alcohol Use With Functional Barriers To Engagement
  • Hospital Support Service For Individuals Engaged In Harmful Substance Use- 24/7 Coverage Discharge And Inpatient, Clinical Guidance Etc
  • Technology Based Approaches To Engagement, Assessment And Support Of Individuals Engaged In Harmful Substance Use

The non-healthcare framework, valued at a maximum of £4,905,000 (excluding VAT), will be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 and comprise 7 lots. These include:

  • Flexible Needle and Syringe Provision
  • Enhanced Employment Support For Multiply Disadvantaged Individuals With Substance Use And Other Support Needs
  • Enhanced Housing Support For Drug And High Risk Alcohol Using Populations
  • Learning And Meaningful Activity Outside Of Employment Support
  • Holistic Community Navigation For Substance Using Populations Exiting Prison
  • Support And Assessment For Individuals In Police Custody
  • Legal Advice And Support For Individuals Engaged In Harmful Substance Use

Both frameworks are scheduled to begin on 1 April 2026, and will run for up to four years (2+1+1).

The frameworks will be funded by the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG), which combines the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTR) and the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG). The confirmed allocation for 2025/26 is £4.099 million, covering both Hackney and the City of London.

The council hopes the frameworks will allow for efficient and compliant allocation of grant funding, as well as providing smaller local organisations opportunities to join the framework and bid for contracts. According to a report considered by the board, establishing frameworks with numerous lots will allow for efficient and compliant award of grant funding, as well as providing smaller local organisations opportunities to join the framework and bid for contracts and remove the requirement for ongoing governance when grant funding is confirmed.