Provision of a Digital Mental Health Support Service for Young People in Berkshire West on behalf of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board have awarded a contract for a Digital Mental Health Support Service for Young People in Berkshire West.

The online services will be up and running by the start of the contract on 1st July 2023.

The service is for young people who live or go to school in Berkshire West aged 11-17 years (up to the 18th birthday). The service will adopt a no wrong door policy. Any young person

under the age of 11 years (not yet had their 11th birthday) or aged 18 years and over will be signposted to more appropriate services. Children whose needs are deemed too complex for direct work with the Digital Service criteria will be signposted to a more appropriate service.

The Digital Service will work with the CYP/Family/Carer to find the most suitable service, likely to be CAMHS.

The service will provide secure and moderated digital tools created in collaboration with young people and which are appropriately integrated with family, educational and clinical

intervention.

The tools will consist of, as a minimum, a secure, moderated website, an App (with iOS and Android functionality) and a range of moderated forums to offer young people an appropriate

first point of entry including:

• chat function for a young person to 'speak' to someone, including supportive peers;
• a messaging function for young people to contact the service;
• live discussion groups - run by professionals and with all comments moderated, to enable groups of young people to interact with each other in a safe environment;
• step-up options which will support young people experiencing, or at risk of deteriorating emotional health and wellbeing with the ability to connect with a qualified clinician via digital option to prevent levels of distress rising;
• evidence-based practice including brief psychological interventions carried out by trained professionals;
• Activities on the site for young people to download;
• A social media presence.

The digital tools will provide comprehensive and safe digital solution and tools that are young person-friendly which empower young people to take control of their mental health and wellbeing.

The online portal will be available 7 days a week 365 days a year with the chat function that is available at appropriate time for these age groups.

The service will :

• Be fully integrated, through building strong working relationships with: Schools (notably head teachers, nominated pastoral leads, child protection leads, MHSTs, school nurses and

any existing counselling provider in schools), Community-based young people's counselling services, Primary Care, Youth services, Children's services (inc. social care and early help),

Health, CAMHS crisis services.

• Work in close partnership with other services to ensure the appropriate level of access and the appropriate level of emotional wellbeing and mental health intervention for children and young people.
• Ensure that pathways are in place for follow on referral work, signposting and to work closely with education (schools and Local Authorities), the CAMHS provider, urgent and emergency care, to develop effective service pathways.
• Have clear safeguarding protocols in place and work closely with the Local Authorities, BHFT and IBC Berkshire West to implement effective safeguarding and child protection procedures and referral processes.
• Use recognised assessment tools and outcomes measures with CYP using the service.
• Provide effective management and clinical oversight to the online services.
• Provide a trained qualified workforce experienced in working with CYP.
• Ensure that there are clearly established and followed pathways to all relevant local services.
• Ensure the service is developed in participation with children and young people.
• Offer a range of local promotion opportunities to a range of key stakeholders i.e. schools to facilitate awareness, engagement, uptake and evaluation.
• Develop a communications and engagement plan in collaboration with the ICB and local authorities ensuring this is co-designed with Berkshire West partners.
• Proactively target those children and young people in the Getting Advice and Getting Help quadrants of Thrive, with a particular focus on those young people who are hard to engage.

The contract commences on 1 July 2023 for an initial period of one year with the option to extend for a further three years (1+1+1).

This process is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the ICB.