NWL0032 Counselling Services - Hillingdon

NWL CCG requires a community trusted provider to offer a wide range of health and wellbeing support for people aged 16+ who have SMI/CCMI and other mental health issues, who need ongoing support to maintain their wellbeing and want to access either counselling or IAPT services. This support includes increased access to information about services available for people with mental health issues and to sign post people to early help. The service should act as a bridge supporting people to access traditional statutory services.

The service requirement includes a short-term and long-term counselling service and IAPT service which offers face-to-face and virtual evidence based counselling support for people on low/no incomes, reducing the risk of people escalating to a crisis before they access help. The service must be able to offer support out of routine office hours and in venues which people feel comfortable.

The service aim is to be more effective by using local knowledge of issues that affect people's mental health and offer a person-centred holistic approach. The service must: - Support people to build and maintain resilience and capacity to access community support. - Work in ways that empower individuals proving more effective at tackling isolation. - Give valuable insight to the issues that people are facing and support needed to ensure that service developments are bespoke. - Offer an early intervention model that the local community can rely on. - Help to alleviate pressures brought by the overuse of emergency services by helping people to navigate the system.

The CCG currently has a contract in place with Hillingdon MIND to provide the services. The term of this contract is 18 months, from 1st October 2021 - 31st March 2023 (value: £156,001.50), during which time the CCG will assess the needs of the service users.

NWL CCG is currently of the view that the services described are capable of being provided only by Hillingdon MIND, as their user-friendly service has built up trust within the local community and offers an early intervention model that people trust. Hillingdon MIND has local respect and community reach with Faith Leaders and key providers within the Borough.

If it is the case that Hillingdon MIND is the only provider capable of delivering the services described, then the CCG will look to award a further contract to Hillingdon MIND. The purpose of this notice is to be transparent about the CCG's intentions and to invite anyone interested in delivering the services described above to contact us by 7th March 2022.

During 2022, it is anticipated that NWL CCG will be succeeded by an Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any future contract and/or procurement opportunity may therefore be in the name of the ICB.