Leadership Scholarships for Nurses Working in General Hospital Settings

Health Education England (HEE - the Commissioner) are putting out this notice as a PIN (Prior Information Notice) with a view to completing a Direct Award.

Please note the contracting authority intends to direct award the contract to the Florence Nightingale Foundation. The case for direct award can be found on the tender portal.

Health Education England (HEE) believe that Florence Nightingale Foundation is the only organisation capable of providing support such as to meet the specific requirements of the Leadership Scholarship specification. The Florence Nightingale Foundation is the only supplier with the requisite expertise and experience to assist HEE in fulfilling the deliverables relating to the increase in mental health services for children and young people (CYP), as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan and the NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan.

The NHS Long Term Plan and NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan commit to provide access to an additional 345,000 CYP aged 0-25 by 2023/24. Children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties can often find themselves in an environment which is not appropriate to their mental health needs, this can include in an emergency/ urgent care department, paediatric ward or adult ward where CYP may be cared for by staff with limited specialist skills and confidence in managing mental health difficulties.

Allowing three nurses and midwives working in general hospital settings the opportunity to undertake a Leadership Scholarship will facilitate improvements in the care of CYP with mental health needs in those general hospital environments. This will support delivery of the increase in access to mental health services for children and young people, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan and the NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan and will also support retention of staff by supporting career development.

The financial envelope for the contract is £34,500 for the three year Term.

For the Specification, Contract and the Case for Direct Award please access the portal at: https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?SearchType=Projects Please access the portal for all documents.

All communications should be made via the messaging function on the Health Family eTendering portal.

If any provider has concerns with the commissioning intentions outlined within the published documentation, please raise this via the eTendering Portal in the first instance within 30 days of the date of this Prior Information Notice.

The closing date of this PIN is 23.59hrs on the 12th August 2021.