NHS Somerset ICB - Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)

This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct Award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of the voluntary sector component of Somerset's Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably from those delivered under the existing contract. MHSTs were introduced in Somerset in 2019 and are now an established component of the children and young people's mental health system. The national programme continues to expand towards an expectation of 100% population coverage by December 2029. The proposed contract will support continuation of the existing MHST model within Somerset, whilst enabling planned coverage in line with national requirements. Locally, MHSTs are delivering positive outcomes and are well regarded by schools, children and young people and system partners. A review of the service undertaken in 2025 confirmed its effectiveness and overall positive performance whilst identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, including strengthening integration, improving productivity and supporting continued expansion. The provider has successfully delivered MHST services within Somerset and has established the workforce, governance, operational and safeguarding arrangements necessary to support delivery across educational settings and localities, including: • Established relationships with schools and educational settings across Somerset • Experience supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs • Delivery of community and school-based interventions • partnership working across health, education, social care and other voluntary sector organisations • Established referral, escalation and safeguarding processes. The provider additionally demonstrates the organisational infrastructure and workforce capability required to support delivery of MHST functions within educational settings, including engagement activity, early intervention support, partnership working and operational coordination across Somerset localities. Following consideration of the key criteria set out within the Provider Selection Regime, NHS Somerset ICB concluded that awarding a further contract to the existing provider represents the most appropriate approach to secure continuity of service delivery and maintain established relationships with schools, children and young people and system partners. The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The total combined contract value is £13,434,965.17 The proposed contract period provides continuity of the existing MHST service model whilst supporting planned expansion towards national coverage expectations. Future commissioning arrangements beyond March 2030 will be considered during the lifetime of the contract. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 3rd July 2026. This exercise was carried out by NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, supported by NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW), along with the publication of this notice. This contract had not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.