Friends In Need & RBWM Support and Recovery Service

East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group ("EBCCG") are seeking expressions of interest from potential providers of a Friends in Need and Support and Recovery Service across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

The Friends in Need service is a quality driven and accessible peer led community for anyone affected by mental health challenges. The programme is designed to support people affected by isolation and loneliness which often accompanies people suffering from depression and mental health problems. These people are brought together to build their own sustainable peer support networks within their local area and online.

The overall aim of the service is to reduce loneliness and isolation through increased resilience, greater self-care, reduced anxiety and crisis prevention through peer support, groups and activities. As well as supporting CMHT clients, social care clients with diagnosed/undiagnosed EUPD and Mental Health Integrated Community Service (MHICS) clients' recovery using Recovery Star methodology.

The ambition is for the Friends in Need service to establish close links with both the Wellbeing and MHICS team to develop more activities and peer support networks in line with the needs of each cohort as well as carry on supporting the existing remit of anyone that is lonely, isolated or has mild/moderate anxiety and/or depression. There is also a need for a younger Friends in Need group supporting ages 17-25 after feedback that often young adults have different needs and peer support requirements than working age adults. This will also further support the MHICS service where there will be a focus on supporting younger adults.

The successful provider would be responsible for developing a new support time and recovery service for the Royal Borough of Maidenhead and Windsor specifically based on the Mental Health Recovery Star to support clients from CMHT, Adult Social Care (diagnosed and undiagnosed emotionally unstable personality disorder) and MHICS working in partnership with each of these services to develop a robust referral pathway.

The contract value is estimated at £230,500 per annum, with a contract term of 2 years with the service commencing on 1st April 2021.

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

Additional information: Interested providers will be able to view this notice 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 bid, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest', 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.