Lancashire and South Cumbria CCGs - Individual Placement Support Service (IPS)

Blackburn with Darwen CCG is acting as co-ordinating commissioner on behalf of all Lancashire and South Cumbria CCGs as part of the Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria shared vision to improve services and work towards a healthier future for the 1.8m people living in the region.

The aim of this contract opportunity is to support those individuals under the care of the local Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) teams to source meaningful and sustainable employment.

Work opportunities promote good mental health and wellbeing and support recovery.

Work is noted to have both psychological and economic benefits.

Employment is viewed as an important outcome of treatment of mental illness within a health setting.

Mental health services are urged to adopt a co-ordinated approach to meet individual needs which includes access to employment. "Working our Way to Better Mental Health - A Framework for Action" (DOH 2009) is a cross government (health, work and wellbeing) national mental health and employment strategy; it adopts a dual approach in addressing both wellbeing and work for everyone and better employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions both in and out of work.

The required services are specific to the Early Intervention Psychosis pathway and the successful bidder will work with Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust (LSCFT) who provide EIP services to the eight CCGs in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The location of the successful bidder's premises is not mandated by the CCGs however the successful bidder will form close links with the LSCFT EIP service teams.

The services are required for a period of 12 months commencing 1st April 2020.

A service review including contractual and financial performance will take place during 2020 and will inform the future IPS commissioning and procurement plan for 2021 onwards.

Potential providers should refer to the Service Specification and the draft NHS Standard Contract within the procurement documentation for a detailed description of the commissioning background; aims and objectives of the service and the specific requirements of the successful provider.

The geographical locations of service provision will be arranged by mutual agreement between the parties with consideration to patient needs and efficient service provision.

The deadline for submissions is 12pm on Friday 14th February 2020.

Further information is available from https://mlcsu.bravosolution.co.uk.