Award

NHS SY ICB - Rotherham Place - Mental Health Community Connectors

  • NHS South Yorkshire ICB

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-022017

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03eb57

Published 28 July 2023, 2:42pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS South Yorkshire ICB

722 Prince of Wales Road

Sheffield

S9 4EU

Contact

Neill Scott

Email

syicb.procurement@nhs.net

Telephone

+44 1143051485

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKE3 - South Yorkshire

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk

one.6) Main activity

Other activity

Mental Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

NHS SY ICB - Rotherham Place - Mental Health Community Connectors

Reference number

SYICB/ROTH/NS/23/62

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The NHS Long Term Plan (and implementation framework) outlines that, “New and integrated models of primary and community mental health care will give 370,000 adults and older adults with severe mental illnesses greater choice and control over their care and support them to live well in their communities by 2023/24.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £429,298

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKE3 - South Yorkshire
Main site or place of performance

Rotherham

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Rotherham Mental Health Community Connectors

NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (the ‘Authority') intend to award without competition to commission a pilot Mental Health Community Connector Service to the provider as described:

Voluntary Action Rotherham, The Spectrum, Coke Hill, Rotherham, S60 2HX, Company number 2222190, Charity number: 1075995.

The NHS Long Term Plan (and implementation framework) outlines that, “New and integrated models of primary and community mental health care will give 370,000 adults and older adults with severe mental illnesses greater choice and control over their care and support them to live well in their communities by 2023/24. Over the past two years partners from across Rotherham have been working together to develop and mobilise this type of new integrated mental health community model of care. The introduction of Mental Health Community Connectors has been identified as an integral part of this new model.

The term ‘Community Connector’ is used to define a variety of distinct roles. In this context it describes a paid role which supports those people with a Severe Mental Illness (as defined in the Community Mental Health Transformation criteria). To do this a mental health community connector would support the individual:
- to navigate through a range of activities to support mental wellbeing and emotional resilience,
- reduce physical health risk factors (reduce inequalities experienced by this group of people),
- access their Annual SMI health check and follow-up activities relating weight management, physical activity, substance misuse etc.
- Connect people with their community and support them to engage with local activities and support. Helping individuals to overcome fears and barriers which stop them accessing services / support.
- Provide early intervention and crisis prevention.
This pilot award is to be made to Voluntary Action Rotherham. The rationale for this decision that as an anchor organisation VAR:
• Has a wide breath of connections across the VSCE system. Consequently, they have a well-established infrastructure in place to enable them to mobilise this new service quickly.
• Has a strong understanding of the new Community Mental Health Transformation programme, as it is collaborating with partners to inform the development of several of the programmes’ s associated pathways of care.
This approach will also enable to Community Connector pilot to be aligned with the wider social prescribing review which is due to be undertaken. The pilot will be commissioned on a one-year contract, from October 2023 to September 2024, with an option to extend for an additional year, from October 2024 to September 2025,(total cost - £429,298).

The community mental health transformation programme is still evolving. This approach will enable us to evaluate and develop the community connector roles in Rotherham and gain a greater understanding of how they can be used to improve patient outcomes, improve access, and reduce inequalities. As this is a new approach, we do not yet have the evidence base or proof of concept to demonstrate whether it is effective, improves outcomes or prevents escalation of need. By piloting the Community Connector approach, it will allow time to gather evidence towards the end of the first year and flexibility to adjust the service for the second year so that we have clearly defined pathways, an understanding of demand/need and measurable outcomes with which to go out to the market. To support this process NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board will commission an external evaluation of the Mental Health Community Connector pilot and how it relates to the wider social prescribing and Integrated Community Mental Health Hubs. it will be tendered, after the pilot, if it proves to be value for money, can evidence impact and improved outcomes etc.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

Rotherham Mental Health Community Connectors

NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (the ‘Authority') intend to award without competition to commission a pilot Mental Health Community Connector Service to the provider as described:

Voluntary Action Rotherham, The Spectrum, Coke Hill, Rotherham, S60 2HX, Company number 2222190, Charity number: 1075995.

The NHS Long Term Plan (and implementation framework) outlines that, “New and integrated models of primary and community mental health care will give 370,000 adults and older adults with severe mental illnesses greater choice and control over their care and support them to live well in their communities by 2023/24. Over the past two years partners from across Rotherham have been working together to develop and mobilise this type of new integrated mental health community model of care. The introduction of Mental Health Community Connectors has been identified as an integral part of this new model.

The term ‘Community Connector’ is used to define a variety of distinct roles. In this context it describes a paid role which supports those people with a Severe Mental Illness (as defined in the Community Mental Health Transformation criteria). To do this a mental health community connector would support the individual:
- to navigate through a range of activities to support mental wellbeing and emotional resilience,
- reduce physical health risk factors (reduce inequalities experienced by this group of people),
- access their Annual SMI health check and follow-up activities relating weight management, physical activity, substance misuse etc.
- Connect people with their community and support them to engage with local activities and support. Helping individuals to overcome fears and barriers which stop them accessing services / support.
- Provide early intervention and crisis prevention.
This pilot award is to be made to Voluntary Action Rotherham. The rationale for this decision that as an anchor organisation VAR:
• Has a wide breath of connections across the VSCE system. Consequently, they have a well-established infrastructure in place to enable them to mobilise this new service quickly.
• Has a strong understanding of the new Community Mental Health Transformation programme, as it is collaborating with partners to inform the development of several of the programmes’ s associated pathways of care.
This approach will also enable to Community Connector pilot to be aligned with the wider social prescribing review which is due to be undertaken. The pilot will be commissioned on a one-year contract, from October 2023 to September 2024, with an option to extend for an additional year, from October 2024 to September 2025,(total cost - £429,298).

The community mental health transformation programme is still evolving. This approach will enable us to evaluate and develop the community connector roles in Rotherham and gain a greater understanding of how they can be used to improve patient outcomes, improve access, and reduce inequalities. As this is a new approach, we do not yet have the evidence base or proof of concept to demonstrate whether it is effective, improves outcomes or prevents escalation of need. By piloting the Community Connector approach, it will allow time to gather evidence towards the end of the first year and flexibility to adjust the service for the second year so that we have clearly defined pathways, an understanding of demand/need and measurable outcomes with which to go out to the market. To support this process NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board will commission an external evaluation of the Mental Health Community Connector pilot and how it relates to the wider social prescribing and Integrated Community Mental Health Hubs. it will be tendered, after the pilot, if it proves to be value for money, can evidence impact and improved outcomes etc.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 June 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Voluntary Action Rotherham

The spectrum, coke hill.

Rotherham

S60 2HX

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKE3 - South Yorkshire
National registration number

2222190

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £429,298


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

NHS England

Quarry House, Quarry Hill

Leeds

LS2 7UE

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.england.nhs.uk/

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

NHS England

1st Floor, Quarry House, Quarry Hill

Leeds

LS2 7UE

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.england.nhs.uk//