RFI - Mental Health Access Mechanism

Tender description

Background Breathing Space is a HMT policy which begins on 4th May 2021. It gives customers protection from creditor interest, charges, enforcement activity and collection communication, enabling them to stabilise their financial situation, engage with advice and find a solution. Most customers will enter by seeking debt advice. However, individuals in mental health crisis care will enter via the Mental Health Access Mechanism (MHAM). Within this, advisers will enter individuals into Breathing Space after receiving evidence they are receiving crisis care from an Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP). Unlike the main part of the scheme where 60 days of protection is applied, customers entering via the MHAH have no time limit to the protections while they remain in crisis care. Further details on the policy can be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1311/contents/made https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space-guidance The Money and Pensions Service is considering going out to market to commission a debt advice provider(s) to deliver the Mental Health Access Mechanism via a pathfinder project: • Serving customers referred into the MHAM between May 2021 - March 2023 • Helping us to develop an efficient, effective service. As part of a market engagement exercise, MaPS is issuing this request for information to identify potential suppliers that would be able and willing to meet our requirements in delivering this service. Further information about this requirement is provided as an attachment in section 5: Attachments. Suppliers who are interested in submitting a response to this RFI should also refer to Section 5 for instructions. Additional information: Suppliers who wish to respond should please submit their response to commercial@maps.org.uk using the provided RFI Response template by the submission deadline: 9am on 9th February 2021.