N2026-119 The Enchanced Recovery Worker Service

NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB invites suitably qualified Providers to participate within early market engagement with the Commissioners re the future provision of the Enchanced Recovery Worker Service .<br/><br/>The aim of the service is to provide accessible low-level mental health support for mild to moderate presentations to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals over 14 years of age at a primary care level. <br/><br/>Service Objectives<br/>a) Improved access to mental health support – Demonstrated through timely access to Enhanced Recovery Worker support across all Primary Care Networks in Norfolk and Waveney. <br/>b) Improved outcomes for service users – Demonstrated through collection of age-appropriate paired Patient Reported Outcome Measures. <br/>c) Reduced disparities in access for under-served groups (e.g., rural communities, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities or long-term conditions, care experienced young people) – Demonstrated through increased referrals from groups with protected characteristics. <br/>d) Improved safety planning for individuals – demonstrated through all staff trained in suicide prevention and awareness and monitoring of safety planning.<br/>e) Improved integration at a primary care network level – through co-location in primary care and collaborative working with the primary care multi-disciplinary team, including Mental Health Practitioners, community youth workers and Social Prescribers<br/>f) Improved provision for young people aged 14-25 years and families – through upskilled workforce, integrated youth pathways, and an embedded ‘think family’ approach.<br/>g) Warm handovers to aligned support services including VCSE partners, community services and substance use organisations.<br/><br/>The Commissioners are keen to receive early market feedback in relation to the Key needs identified via an online questionnaire to support the development of new service specification.<br/><br/>The aim of this Expression of Interest is to;<br/>1. provide the market with visibility of the proposed opportunity;<br/>2. support the ICB decision making to inform the future commissioning of services (as applicable);<br/>3. to help define the future service approach, model and timelines;<br/>4. to gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity across the region to deliver the services noted above.<br/><br/>A further advertisement will be issued at the appropriate time. You will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent process if you choose not to respond to this market testing process, but the Commissioner wishes to understand your views. The deadline for The Enhanced Recovery Worker Service responses is by 17:00 hours on 20th March 2026.<br/><br/>Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the ICB to carry out any further procurement process. Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements. Any future opportunity will be carried out in accordance with the ICB’s procurement obligations under the Provider Selection Regime.<br/><br/>This is an early market engagement exercise only and at this stage the proposed contract length and anticipated contract value are to be determined and will be communicated during any future next steps.<br/><br/>Please note that whilst this market engagement has been advertised on behalf of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, from the 1st April 2026 the ICBs ( NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB and NHS Suffolk & North East Essex ICB) will merge together and form the new NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB. Additional information: The deadline for The Enhanced Recovery Worker Service responses is by 17:00 hours on 20th March 2026.<br/><br/>The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this market testing exercise. Further information and the Invitation to Tender documentation can be found via the ‘Live Opportunities’ list on the e-procurement system at the following link: atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗<br/><br/>You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract ref C429542