HIV Support Services

London Borough of Ealing wishes to carry out market engagement with providers who are interested in tendering for a contract for the provision of HIV Support Services to commence from 1 April 2024. Provider are asked to register an interest on the London Tenders Portal and fill in a market engagement questionnaire at the links below. As part of the questionnaire providers will be asked if they wish to have an individual meeting with the Public Health Specialist lead for this service. Individual meetings are likely be on the 17th or 18th April 2023.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Q4w6AYeCi0yHixMeMM258yr18p-24EtEgTV6UR8rX4lUM0kwRVc2TjRNVTROSU5XNU9MM1pBTEVJTS4u

Ealing spends circa £72,919 per annum on HIV Support Services. The Council is looking for excellent outcomes, efficiency, and innovation to make best use of this budget. Subject to governance, it is anticipated that the contract will commence on 1st April 2024 and will be for three (3) years, with one possibility of a two (2) year extension, with a total value of £364,595 (if extension used)

HIV support is different, but complementary to HIV treatment. This service will work in close collaboration with HIV treatment services, used by Ealing residents, especially at Ealing Hospital HIV treatment site. HIV support services are important, it is recognised that HIV support needs may not be fully addressed by mainstream services alone. There is a requirement for this service to implement best practice in HIV support service provision, tailored to local and individual needs, providing a range of services, to provide holistic support for people living with HIV. Involving people in HIV support service design and co-production, at all stages, is key to ensuring services are relevant and meet diverse HIV needs in Ealing.

The HIV support service will play a key role in the local HIV pathway. Effective partnership working across the local system is essential. There will be close collaboration with HIV treatment services used by Ealing residents, with a requirement to provide regular face-to-face service at the Ealing HIV treatment site, as well as group-based services and other services, to include peer support. The overall aim is to improve health and wellbeing and quality of live by supporting people with HIV to live healthy and productive lives, with additional individual support where there are vulnerabilities, such as when newly diagnosed, experiencing adverse life events, or feeling isolated. The service will be required to have clear pathways both into and out of the service and pro-actively promote the service amongst key partners and communities, Local priorities identified include a need for face-to-face support including, but not limited to, counselling and peer support, providing practical support in accessing welfare, benefits where there is hardship, reducing social isolation, holistic health improvement, including lifestyles, and maintaining longer-term care.