Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group - Request for Quotation for Accident & Emergency Safety Planning Outreach in Royal Berkshire Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital

Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) (the Commissioner) seeks to commission Accident & Emergency (A&E) Safety Planning Outreach in Royal Berkshire Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital.

A number of studies have highlighted the importance of maintaining a connection with a person who has self-harmed as a protective factor against repeated suicide attempt. Individuals who are admitted to the emergency department for suicidal ideation or deliberate self-harm are at high risk of attempting or re-attempting suicide after discharge. As described in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health, continuity of care and smooth transitions from an emergency department can minimise this risk.

The Safety Planning Outreach Support is a pilot project and part of the Wave 4 Suicide prevention work. It is exclusively for those people who have attended A&E with self-harm or suicidal thoughts and have been assessed by the A&E Psychological Medicine Service as not requiring a secondary care intervention but may benefit from post discharge contact and safety planning.

The aim of the service is to offer a follow up to support with developing a safety plan and making a connection with relevant community support services for the individuals referred.

Safety plan interventions will focus on support options in the individuals' own community drawing from Third Sector services, Local Authority provision and Primary Health Care services.

The A&E Safety Planning Outreach will be a face to face follow up whenever possible. However, due to COVID-19, adjustments will be made (online and telephone where required) and this will also depend on the needs and preferences of the person they are working with.

The Safety Planning Outreach Worker(s) will in collaboration with other community resources: • Promote connection and reduce isolation • Improve coping skills • Signpost to other services and sources of support • Provide educational strategies to help with difficulties that triggered self-harm

Crucial to the role of is an awareness of local Third-Sector services, grass root services and other primary care services. The intervention can be delivered by a skilled individual who has experience of working with people with mental health issues or lived experience. The worker(s) do not need to be registered mental health workers.

The service will not provide psychological therapy or crisis support and it is not an emergency service. It is an additional rather than alternative service for support and encourages people to engage with a safety plan.

The Contract is anticipated to commence on 1st May 2022 for term of 23 months.

The maximum contract value is £156,000.

Additional information: Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system In-Tend, available on the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to submit a quote, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest', and 'Opt in' and then complete a response as specified within the procurement documents.

On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The contract value of this procurement is under the Light Touch Regime threshold and therefore the rules of this Regime do not apply.