Market Engagement for the Provision of NHS Practitioner Health (NHSPH)

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGEM CSU) are undertaking a market engagement exercise on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI), in the form of a soft market testing questionnaire to gain market interest and feedback from experienced organisations that provide clinical assessment and treatment services to health and social care staff who are experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.

NHS Practitioner Health (NHSPH) was commissioned in 2016 to provide free and confidential mental health assessment and treatment services for health professionals (as service users) with complex needs and circumstances, and with the current contract due to end March 2022, we are considering our options to appoint a new contract from April 2022 for 2 years until 2024, with the option to extend for further 2 years until 2026.

NHSPH operates in a unique space where there is a crossover between the professional and regulatory environment in which a clinician or health professional works, and their mental health treatment needs. NHSPH expertise lies in managing the confidentiality associated with accessing health care, taking responsibility for the safety of the service user accessing NHSPH but also the professional and patient responsibilities and risks associated with a health professional's role. NHSPH's understanding and experience are in the mental health presentation of health professionals, especially where this is a high risk of suicide, and the specialist support they may require to return to safe, effective practice. More information about NHSPH, its objectives and how it operates can be found in the attachments and NHSPH's website: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/

NHSPH will operate alongside local staff Mental health and wellbeing Hubs which will support the majority of health and social care staff mental health needs. A small number of healthcare professionals may require more complex support which cannot be met by the hubs; this is the purpose of NHSPH. More information about the hubs can be found in the attachments and NHS England's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/staff-mental-health-and-wellbeing-hubs/

NHSPH will operate alongside local staff Mental health and wellbeing Hubs which will support the majority of health and social care staff mental health needs. A small number of healthcare professionals may require more complex support which cannot be met by the hubs; this is the purpose of NHSPH. More information about the hubs can be found in the attachments and NHS England's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/staff-mental-health-and-wellbeing-hubs/

Additional information: NHSEI proposes to re-procure NHSPH as a single national contract for the following key reasons: - To ensure a nationally consistent offer to health and social care staff with complex mental health issues, and a single point of access for local Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs to refer into.

- To ensure patient choice and the ability to be seen anywhere across England i.e., out of area services, due to not being able to access local services as a result of confidentiality issues e.g., staff who are likely to be well known by local services.

- To maintain a good level of standards and good service quality, patient experience, and outcomes, which has been achieved through the central contracting approach.

- To minimise any disruption to service users and ensure continuity of access to mental health services during the pandemic.

- To avoid any potential cost pressures to commissioners which may be required to re-organise and transition to regionally based contracts.

- To ensure consistency of service as a result of a single national commissioner, whilst the NHS goes through its commissioning transformation and reorganisation.

Our key objective from this soft market testing is to establish how the market has moved on and developed in this sector and the capability of interested parties to run the service across England. Organisations that express an interest should read all the supporting documentation prior to completing the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire, to ensure they understand the full scope of services required.

In addition to the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire, we will also hold an online Market event on Tuesday 29th June at 1 - 2pm, where we will be able to answer any questions about this notice and associated documents.

This market engagement is being facilitated via NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit's EU Supply e-Tendering portal. To express an interest please use this link https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=UK and register against project reference: 44974 - NHSPH/ME/2021. The deadline for completed questionnaires is 12pm on Wednesday 6th July.

All organisations that express an interest will be invited to the Market Session once you have registered please use the portal's messaging service to provide details of the representatives for the presentation session.

Supporting Documents can be obtained once registered against the project: • Service briefing Summary • Service Specification • Service liabilities & assets (Asset list, Property and potential TUPE implications)