NW2023-27 Tier 3.5 - 4 Enhanced Psychological Services NHS Norfolk & Waveney ICB

Tender description

During the Covid-19 pandemic a staff support hub was set up in Norfolk & Waveney as part of a national initiative to provide additional mental health support to health & social care staff who were struggling with the impact of Covid. National funding for these hubs ceased in March 2023, with each ICS required to provide health & social care staff a similar level of support to the Covid hubs on an on-going basis. Following a review of existing service provision, commissioners have identified the need to develop tier 3.5 - 4 enhanced psychological services (EPS) to complement existing tier 1-3 provision. The service is targeted at staff with more complex clinical presentations that typically require a higher degree of face-to-face interventions. The tier 3.5 - 4 enhanced psychological services will primarily support individual staff with their mental health but will also occasionally be offered to their wider teams. The transitional funding provided by the local ICB expires at the end of the ‘23/’24 financial year, with each ICS organisation required to fund support for its own staff with effect from April ’24. A combination of existing service provision and financial constraints means that the EPS service will only be commissioned by 3 of the 5 local NHS trusts (Norfolk & Norwich, James Paget, and Norfolk Community Health & Care), as well as the ICB. This procurement seeks to establish a common service, with each trust contracting separately with the chosen provider.