Counselling Services for Schools

Tender description

Provision of suitably qualified counselling services in SLC schools, to meet the aims of the Scottish Government commitments around children and young people’s mental health. The aims of the policy and funding, as stated in the Scottish Government Policy, are to provide; - Access to counselling through schools - High quality and effective counselling support to children and young people over the age of 10 Due to Scottish Government Guidance advocating full pupil return for the start of the August term it is not possible to proceed with an open or restricted procedure to establish a Framework of suppliers to meet the capacity required for these essential services in the time available. The counselling services are urgently required to meet the significant need for Mental Health support following the effects of the Covid19 pandemic and mental health issues brought about by the extended lockdown and social isolation suffered by children, young people and families. . The Council have used a negotiated procedure under Regulations 74 – 76 of the 2015 Regulations relating to Social and Other Specific Services procured under the light touch regime including the use of the negotiated procedure under Regulation 33(1)(c) allowing the use of the negotiated procedure where (but only if strictly necessary) for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the Council the time limits for use of the open or restricted procedures cannot be complied with.