Smoking support within Community Mental Health Teams

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. This notice will be live for fourteen (14) days from the date of publication.

The intention is to award this contract using the most suitable provider process.

Justification to this approach

Smoking is the biggest driver of inequalities and is far common in people with a long-term mental health condition when compared to the general condition. Quitting smoking can aid recovery from mental breakdown thereby, reducing the risk of relapse and long hospital detentions. Furthermore, availability of cheap and illicit tobacco makes it difficult for people from disadvantaged and low-income backgrounds to quit, therefore it’s imperative that support is offered at regular points of treatment to keep patient’s smokefree journey on track..

A pathway into the LW service on discharge from hospital stay was established last year, however, this has been unsuccessful. Possible reasons for this include, staff capacity, lack of motivation and engagement with another service outside mental health. This proposal aims to overcome some of these barriers by taking the service to the target group. This is an opportunity to target large number of smokers within the mental health services and provide the support within their settings where trust and rapport has already been built.

Evidence suggests that integrated approaches that provide regular, structured opportunities for open discussions about the challenges of quitting smoking and can aid recovery. The proposed model will also provide staff with a better understanding of nicotine addiction and provide access to on-site level 2 stop smoking advisors to support the patient’s care plan. A 2016 survey of stop smoking practitioners found that practitioners from services that had a dedicated mental health lead were more confident in supporting smokers with different mental health conditions compared to practitioners within the local stop smoking services.

Contract Length and funding

This programme is to be funded initially for a period of 18 months with an option to extend for another 1 year subject to performance. The total value of this contract is £200,000 to cover 2 years and 6 months.

Essential criteria

•Provider must have access to an updated patients list under the care of 5 Community Mental Health Teams

•Provider must use Quit Manager to record all smoking outcomes

•Provider must have previous experience of providing smoking cessation support in a mental health setting

•Provider must provide leadership, governance and training to the 2 stop smoking advisors

Provider(s) wishing to express and interest and be considered for the Most suitable provider process must be registered on YORtender, and submit response via YORtender stating you would like to be considered. All expressions of interest must be submitted by 09:00 on Friday 09th January 2026. Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. It is the intention to award a contract using the most suitable provider process