NHS West Kent CCG: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services AQP

Tender description

This notice relates to the procurement of a community AQP Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services for NHS West Kent CCG (the Commissioner). The Commissioner is supported in this project by KMCS (the CSU) and its procurement partner NHS Commercial Solutions (NCS), which is managing this procurement. Nationally it is estimated that around 17.7% of adults aged 18 and older meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one common mental health disorder and around 15% of these will benefit from access to psychological therapy services in primary care. Reducing the prevalence of common mental health disorders is a major public health concern. NHS West Kent CCG wish to commission Primary Care Psychological Therapies Services for Adults (18+) in line with national guidance and local requirements from suitably qualified healthcare providers. Providers may offer to provide services at step 2 and/or step 3 and step 3+ and may work across West Kent. Providers will be accredited against each step and may work in partnership with other providers to provide the range of services specified. Details of the service to be provided are set out in the service specification. In securing services under the AQP process, the authority needs assurance of competence, quality and safety standards just as it would for services secured under a formal tender process. Any provider will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating competency against specified criteria. Qualified providers will be expected to deliver the service under the NHS Standard Contract. As a qualified provider there are no levels of guaranteed activity. Payment is made based on actual provision. The successful provider(s) will be required to sign the relevant national NHS contract for the service, accepting all terms and conditions. The service will be commissioned using AQP.