Ward Security has secured a prestigious new contract with the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) that saw the Kent company beat off strong local competition to win.
SEPT is one of the largest NHS providers in the country of health and social care services for people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities.
In South Essex, it covers a population of around 715,000, and has an annual income of around £100 million to deliver services for local people. It also delivers forensic mental health services for the whole of Essex.
Ward Security started working with SEPT when it took over the Essex-based business RJL Security in 2007.
Prior to the contract win, the Rochester-based company had been providing security services alongside two other firms.
But, far from being reactive, over the last 18 months, the company had already implemented new reporting procedures and had worked hard to improve the levels of service that SEPT had been used to.
All of this stood the company in good stead when it was asked to tender for the security contract. Not only was Ward Security appointed the primary security provider, it was asked to provide additional services that it hadn’t previously done so.
John Harmer, contracts accounts manager with SEPT, says that Ward Security was the obvious choice. “We had to consider a number of criteria, including the ability to meet our exacting specification, previous experience of providing a security service, professional memberships, and locality. Ward Security was able to meet all of these criteria – and more.”
Ward Security is providing guarding, locking and unlocking, patrols and alarm response at the main SEPT hospitals, including Rochford Hospital, Runwell Hospital, and Thurrock Community Hospital, as well as at more than 100 additional sites.
And, says Mr Harmer, the company has already made a difference. “Ward Security is providing a much more professional and responsive service,” he said. “Its attention to detail and levels of customer service are both excellent.” And, he added, he would have no hesitation in recommending the firm.
Ward Security operations director Kevin Ward said: “We secured this contract on the quality of our work and our innovation and attention to detail.
“The work we put in over the previous 18 months was evidence of the kind of service we could provide – and obviously was reflected in the decision to award Ward Security the contract.”
