Northamptonshire Integrated Sexual Health and HIV Service (NISHH)

It has long been accepted that sexual ill health is not equally distributed across the population. Strong links exist between deprivation and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Northamptonshire County Council is acting as the lead commissioner on behalf of the Council and NHS England to procure a high quality Integrated Sexual Health and outpatient HIV Service (NISHH) that provides equitable and open access county wide to self-help information and advice, preventive, diagnostic and treatment services and timely referral to specialist services. The integrated service model will deliver open access 'one stop shops', open to any individual, where the majority of sexual health and contraceptive needs can be met at any one site, usually by one health professional, in services with extended opening hours and accessible locations. The overall aim is to reduce unplanned pregnancies and the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the County and contribute to similar reductions in the wider population. The integrated service includes provision of the Chlamydia Screening Programme, access to free condoms via the C Card scheme, and provision of County wide access to Emergency Hormonal Contraception and Long Acting Reversible Contraception.

The NISHH specification is ambitious and key to success is the reduction in teenage pregnancies, increased chlamydia screening and a reduction in the number of people with late diagnosis of HIV. It requires the Provider to work with people, rather than for people, using an outcome based approach, and championing social action. Recognising communities and individuals as assets and as equal partners, not as passive recipients of public services. The Provider will be an innovative, forward thinking organisation, capable of realising our vision for improving sexual health using the principles of co-design and co-production to bring this Specification to life. The Provider shall deliver services that build on people's existing capabilities, rather than starting with their needs (the traditional deficit model) and act as a catalyst for change, empowering individuals and communities to become active in taking charge of, and improving, their sexual health and wellbeing.

The Service shall be the responsibility of a single or "Lead" Provider, who shall identify, develop and maintain any partnership arrangements necessary to deliver the full range of service outcomes. The detailed requirements are defined in the Specification.

The service will be required from 1st July 2018 for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period of up to 2 years, taking the total contract term to a maximum of 4 years. The Authority believes that TUPE does apply to this contract at its commencement. The deadline for completed ITTs to be received on the LGSS eTendering Portal is 12:00noon on Monday 19th March 2018.