NHS Wakefield CCG: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

Tender description

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies for Wakefield GP registered residents. Lot 1: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a nationally required mental health services and therefore must be commissioned in Wakefield to a specific framework. This is a specialist service that requires a specifically clinically qualified workforce which the current provider offers. There are clear benefits to be gained from maintaining continuity with our current provider (for example, they are a known and trusted brand, with a well-established, yet flexible approach to service delivery) and significant risks associated with the potential loss of workforce triggered by a formal procurement process. IAPT qualified workers are constantly in short supply and it is typical for an IAPT service to be carrying vacancies. Staff recruitment and retention is an on-going challenge and the uncertainty caused by putting a service out to the market could result in significant loss to the workforce. WCCG is satisfied with Turning Point’s performance to date and don’t seek to make significant changes to the current contractual arrangements, when the existing agreement expires 30/09/2022.