NHS England South West - Specialist Counselling to Reduce Health Inequalities and a Befriending Service for Women who have experienced Sexual Violence in Avon and Somerset

This notice is placed to set out NHS England South West's (the Commissioner's) intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process. NHS England South West is commissioning specialist counselling services to address health inequalities, specifically for refugees, asylum seekers and Deaf women, and the provision of a 'Befriending' service, for women who have experienced sexual violence. This provision is for the area of Avon and Somerset, to continue the work of the 'Avon and Somerset Enhanced Mental Health Pathfinder' which has been running since 2022. The intention is to move from 'proof of concept' stage to an ongoing model of delivery based on proven outcomes. The Commissioner, is seeking a provider/s who are suitable and capable to continue the delivery of this work. Scope: Specialist 'health inequalities' counselling service for women, specifically refugees, asylum-seekers, and Deaf women. The service for refugee and asylum-seeking women will offer trauma counselling to a minimum of 12 women per quarter. This service should sit within a broader provision, accessing funding from a range of sources to maximise impact and effectiveness. The service for Deaf women will offer trauma counselling to a minimum of 10 women per quarter. Access to the service will be enabled through the use of sign-supported English and/or lip reading or seen by a counsellor who is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL). Scope: The Befriending service to provide isolated women with complex mental health needs with a befriender. The service will recruit, train, match and supervise volunteer befrienders to support each woman's recovery by helping them to improve their mental health and wellbeing, get out and about, engage in community activities, build safe, healthy relationships to reduce re-victimisation, increase independence, confidence and self-esteem and reduce reliance on statutory services. It should help women to overcome social isolation, and therefore have a positive impact on mental ill health. The Befriending Service will offer a minimum of 20 'partnerships' per quarter. The services will be for women aged 18 and over. The contract will commence on 1st April 2025. The contract will expire on 30th September 2029. Additional information: The Specification can be found in Atamis (see details below for access), along with a Most Suitable Provider Questionnaire which requires completion in order to express interest. Providers who believe they are suitable to deliver these services and express an interest will be assessed against the basic selection criteria and key criteria under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The basic criteria includes: - The provider's ability to pursue a particular activity - Economic and financial standing - Technical and professional ability The key criteria includes: - Quality and innovation (25%) - Value (5%) - Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (30%) - Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (30%) - Social value (10%) The percentages illustrate the relative importance of these criteria associated with the delivery of these services.