Children & Young People Therapeutic Health Based Coaching - NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (Essex wide)

This Contract Award notice follows the publication of a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice, published on 17.04.2023 (Notice reference: 2023/S 000-010912), the purpose of which was intended to provide notice of the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS Mid and South Essex ICB and Suffolk and NHS North East Essex ICB's (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") intention to award a contract for Therapeutic Health Based Coaching Services under Regulation 32 (2) (a), to the incumbent provider N.O.W's The Time For Change, for a period of 12 months from 1st May 2023 to 30th April 2024, at an aggregate contract value of £406,800 (excluding VAT). Prior to conclusion of the contract, The Authority applied a voluntary 10-day standstill period from the publication of the VEAT.

The Therapeutic Health Based Coaching Service will deliver support to parents and carers of children and young people who live in Essex and who have been in contact with the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children's and Adolescent Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS) and are receiving treatment. The service will also act as an additional support element for families who are experiencing anxiety, depression or require support in their current situation.

The key outcomes of the service are to:

• Provide therapeutic support to families who are facing the additional challenges of emotional wellbeing, anxiety, low mood etc. affecting a child or young person;
• Encourage communication between family members
• Explore any fears, anxieties, difficulty or distress
• Help with conflict and conflict resolution skills
• Help reduce feelings of isolation
• Identify and facilitate ways to address contributing factors in their daily lives
• Gain insight into, and explore strategies to improve, their situation
• Find practical solutions to the daily challenges

The Authority issued a Contract Notice (2023/S 000-003382) communicating to the market that the Authority was commencing a competitive procurement for the provision of Therapeutic Health Based Coaching Service, on 3rd February 2023. A Light Touch Open Procedure was completed by the Authority in accordance with such Contract Notice, however on this occasion there were unfortunately no suitable tenders submitted in response to this procedure, and the procedure was abandoned.

Based on positive outcomes for and feedback regarding the pilot, the Authority wishes to ensure continuity of provision of the Service to Children and Young People and their Parents and Carers across Essex. As such the Authority has taken a decision to continue to work with the incumbent provider for another 12 months to provide sufficient time to deliver a second procurement process, details of which will be communicated to the market in due course via relevant Contract Notices.

Additional information:

The Authority issued a Contract Notice (2023/S 000-003382) communicating to the market that the Authority was commencing a competitive procurement for the provision of Therapeutic Health Based Coaching Service, on 3rd February 2023. A Light Touch Open Procedure was completed by the Authority in accordance with such Contract Notice, however on this occasion there were unfortunately no suitable tenders submitted in response to this procedure, and the procedure was abandoned.

Based on positive outcomes for and feedback regarding the pilot, the Authority wishes to ensure continuity of provision of the Service to Children and Young People and their Parents and Carers across Essex. As such the Authority has taken a decision to continue to work with the incumbent provider for another 12 months to provide sufficient time to deliver a second procurement process, details of which will be communicated to the market in due course via relevant Contract Notices.

The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Public contracts for social and other specific services listed in Schedule 3 of the Regulations (the "Light Touch" Regime).