Health and social work services

Tender description

Northamptonshire County Council is acting as the lead commissioner on behalf of the Council and NHS England to procure a high-quality Integrated Sexual Health and HIV Service (NISHH) that provides equitable and open access countywide to self-help info and advice, preventive, diagnostic and treatment services and timely referral to specialist services. The service model will deliver open access ‘one-stop shops’, where the majority of sexual health/contraceptive needs can be met at any one site, usually by one health professional, in services with extended opening hours and accessible locations. The overall aim is to reduce unplanned pregnancies and the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the County and contribute to similar reductions in the wider population. The service includes the provision of the Chlamydia screening programme, access to free condoms via C Card scheme, and provision of county-wide access to EHC and LARC. The specification is ambitious and key to success is the reduction in teenage pregnancies, increased chlamydia screening and a reduction in the number of people with a late diagnosis of HIV. It requires the Provider to work with people, rather than for people, using an outcome-based approach and championing social action. Recognising communities and individuals as assets and as equal partners, not as passive recipients of public services. The provider will be an innovative, forward-thinking organisation, capable of realising our vision for improving sexual health using the principles of co-design/co-production to bring this Specification to life. The Provider shall deliver services that build on people's existing capabilities, rather than starting with their needs (the traditional deficit model) and act as a catalyst for change, empowering individuals and communities to become active in taking charge of and improving their sexual health and wellbeing.