NHS England South West - Specialist Counselling to Reduce Health Inequalities and a Befriending Service for Women who have experienced Sexual Violence in Avon and Somerset

Concepts

• rehabilitation services
• statutory services
• specialist counselling services
• mental ill health
• health inequalities
• complex mental health needs
• reduce health inequalities
• specialist health inequalities counselling service
• trauma counselling
• the sexual violence support services

Location

Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath Area: Avon and Somerset

Geochart for 1 buyers and 0 suppliers

NHS England

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Description

This notice is placed to set out NHS England South West's (the Commissioner's) intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process. NHS England South West is commissioning specialist counselling services to address health inequalities, specifically for refugees, asylum seekers and Deaf women, and the provision of a 'Befriending' service, for women who have experienced sexual violence. This provision is for the area of Avon and Somerset, to continue the work of the 'Avon and Somerset Enhanced Mental Health Pathfinder' which has been running since 2022. The intention is to move from 'proof of concept' stage to an ongoing model of delivery based on proven outcomes. The Commissioner, is seeking a provider/s who are suitable and capable to continue the delivery of this work. Scope: Specialist 'health inequalities' counselling service for women, specifically refugees, asylum-seekers, and Deaf women. Scope: The Befriending service to provide isolated women with complex mental health needs with a befriender. The services will be for women aged 18 and over. The contract will commence on 1st April 2025. The contract will expire on 30th September 2029. Those delivering the services must be qualified and registered with the relevant bodies, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The provider must have experience of delivering services within the sexual violence support services pathway within Avon and Somerset, and have established links and networks to enable collaborative working and integrated delivery. The Provider must be able to mobilise by the contract start date. Services will be contracted using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Total Quantity or Scope

The service for refugee and asylum-seeking women will offer trauma counselling to a minimum of 12 women per quarter. This service should sit within a broader provision, accessing funding from a range of sources to maximise impact and effectiveness. The service for Deaf women will offer trauma counselling to a minimum of 10 women per quarter. Access to the service will be enabled through the use of sign-supported English and/or lip reading or seen by a counsellor who is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL). … The service will recruit, train, match and supervise volunteer befrienders to support each woman's recovery by helping them to improve their mental health and wellbeing, get out and about, engage in community activities, build safe, healthy relationships to reduce re-victimisation, increase independence, confidence and self-esteem and reduce reliance on statutory services. It should help women to overcome social isolation, and therefore have a positive impact on mental ill health. The Befriending Service will offer a minimum of 20 'partnerships' per quarter. … The contract will expire on 30th September 2029. Additional information: The Specification can be found in Atamis (see details below for access), along with a Most Suitable Provider Questionnaire which requires completion in order to express interest. Providers who believe they are suitable to deliver these services and express an interest will be assessed against the basic selection criteria and key criteria under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The basic criteria includes: - The provider's ability to pursue a particular activity - Economic and financial standing - Technical and professional ability The key criteria includes: - Quality and innovation (25%) - Value (5%) - Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (30%) - Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (30%) - Social value (10%) The percentages illustrate the relative importance of these criteria associated with the delivery of these services.

CPV Codes

• 85312500 - Rehabilitation services

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** Interested providers should review the Specification, found within Atamis, to determine whether they believe they are capable and suitable to deliver this service. Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number), to gain full access to the relevant information, you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page. If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation. Where deemed suitable, providers can express an interest. They must do this by submitting a response to the questionnaire (within Atamis) including organisational details, financial information and a statement as to why you believe you are a suitable provider. Please return your questionnaire via the correspondence function within Atamis by midnight, Friday 6th September. Award decisions will be recommended by the NHS England Health & Justice Sexual Assault and Abuse Strategy Commissioner. Award decisions will be made by the NHS England South West System Oversight & Co-ordination Leadership Team, with key decision makers being Managing Director - System Commissioning Development, Director of Commissioning Finance, Director of Collaborative Commissioning. The intention is to award a contract using the most suitable provider process. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.