Expressions of Interest for the expansion of the existing IPS programme

NHS England plans to expand access for people with severe and enduring mental illness to Individual Placement and Support services to achieve and exceed the NHS Long Term Plan target of 55,000 people each year. Existing competing local priorities and significant regional variations in provision has meant that targets are not being realised and this project presents the opportunity for a delivery partner to co-ordinate a response to the key implementation challenges and opportunities presented by the expansion. This project would run from 23/24 - 28/29 to support the expansion of the existing IPS programme and its adherence to the IPS Fidelity Model.

The provider would need to be able to operate across 8 regional locations in the United Kingdom with a variety of key stakeholders in line with expansion plans. Delivery of the project is expected to require rapid development of effective infrastructure across 42 services to mobilise the expansion and achieve stepped access and outcome targets within the first year. Due to the tight timescales and outcomes required, a robust understanding and proven experience of delivering IPS within community mental health whilst adhering to the existing IPS fidelity model is expected from the supplier. This includes strong links with primary care, voluntary sectors, and the ability to promote self-referrals.

We envisage the supplier's role to be:

• a.Ensuring hands-on implementation support for mobilisation and quality improvement from a network of IPS consultants;
• b.Producing a workforce development and training programme and professional accreditation scheme to support recruitment and training of IPS staff;
• c.Ensuring central resources for commissioners, IPS providers, and clinical teams are in place;
• d.Providing effective reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of outcomes mechanisms, including development of data and reporting tool to support services to track progress and to monitor project progress at national, regional, trust, and team levels.

We expect existing and future budgets to contain funding for this project liable to be in the region of £22m.

Providers interested in providing this service are asked to contact NHS England on the email address below: england.commercialqueries@nhs.net