Counselling services

Tender description

Background We have 15 000 students across 3 campuses and 20 different academic departments in Colchester, Southend and Loughton; we are ranked in the top 20 for the most international student community (Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018). Students study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in both Taught and Research contexts. Students live both on and off campus and represent a truly diverse community, including some under the age of 18. At Essex, in line with the national picture, we have seen a significant growth in the demand for student mental health services. Our student wellbeing services work to provide a professional and proactive service for students within a wider safe, healthy and inclusive environment. It is our ambition to support our students to fulfil their potential as individuals and to enable them to be active participants in their own educational experiences and the transformational opportunities available to them at the University of Essex. The appointed service provider would need to have an understanding of the educational context, including the student journey and be able to demonstrate competency in applying that knowledge in order to deliver those services set out in this invitation to tender. Current Service Students can access the counselling service by completing an online form which is reviewed by the student wellbeing and inclusivity service or by directly contacting our current partner organisation for student counselling. Students are able to receive four sessions of face-to-face, telephone, or video-based counselling. There is also a 24-hour student wellbeing support line that students can ring for ad-hoc support or for their counselling assessments. Background We have 15 000 students across 3 campuses and 20 different academic departments in Colchester, Southend and Loughton; we are ranked in the top 20 for the most international student community (Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018). Students study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in both taught and research contexts. Students live both on and off campus and represent a truly diverse community, including some under the age of 18. At Essex, in line with the national picture, we have seen a significant growth in the demand for student mental health services. Our student wellbeing services work to provide a professional and proactive service for students within a wider safe, healthy and inclusive environment. It is our ambition to support our students to fulfil their potential as individuals and to enable them to be active participants in their own educational experiences and the transformational opportunities available to them at the University of Essex. The appointed service provider would need to have an understanding of the educational context, including the student journey and be able to demonstrate competency in applying that knowledge in order to deliver those services set out in this invitation to tender. Current service Students can access the counselling service by completing an online form which is reviewed by the student wellbeing and inclusivity service or by directly contacting our current partner organisation for student counselling. Students are able to receive four sessions of face-to-face, telephone, or video-based counselling. There is also a 24-hour student wellbeing support line that students can ring for ad-hoc support or for their counselling assessments. Key points • ability to provide on campus support at each of our sites and remote counselling provision at varying times of the day and at weekends; • monthly reporting on information dictated by the University of Essex; • ability to support the University with crisis interventions; • 24-hour service or alternative suggestion to achieve high level of service. Further information Please note consideration will be given to companies that can provide one or more of the services listed above. Market engagement meeting dates are expected to be late July/early August and a maximum of three suppliers will be contacted to attend. Furthermore, once contacted they will also be given a brief list of specific questions prior to the meetings to enable them to prepare. We would like to make clear that this exercise is purely to test the marketplace and will have no further impact on any tender that we may then proceed with at a later date. Furthermore, the information provided above is subject to change We would anticipate the meetings to be a fairly informal event and be no longer than a 2-hour video call with around 4-5 members of the University present. We will, of course, keep all supplier contact details so that if/when a tender process does take place, we would invite those that have already registered an interest. Expression of interest and submission We would appreciate your expression of interest and would like to ask for a short (no more than 2 pages) submission outlining your company information, what it is that you do, any mention of relevant case studies and how you anticipate to meet some or all of our needs as detailed above. We would like to receive all expression of interests and submission by 9 a.m. on 17 July 2020.