NWL0045 Cancer Support Services to BAME Community - Brent

NWL CCG requires a cancer support service that will support cancer sufferers, carers and their families for GP registered population of Brent and residents from adjoining boroughs registered with Brent GPs. The provider will be required to address the culturally diverse and emotional needs of people affected by cancer from the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) with information, advice to support them with effective ways of coping with the impact of cancer.

Key services to residents of BAME background include:

-Developing ways of coping with cancer, ensuring a culturally-sensitive approach.

-Supportive drop-in service, reaching out to the Inclusion Health Groups (formerly referred to as "hard to reach" groups) as well as to the communities from Caribbean, African, Irish, Asians, Chinese and of other Mixed heritage. -Ensuring health and social inclusion addressing root causes of cancer by organising open health forums on cancer education.

-Raise awareness of risk factors of cancer and healthy living.

-Outreach services by using staff and volunteers to visit users in their homes, hospitals, and hospices, should they be unable to vist the drop-in centres / session. -Arrange talks on community radio stations to raise cancer awareness.

-Work in partnership with other cancer agencies in the provision of relevant advice, information

and services.

-Facilitate self-help and support groups.

-Provide help in accessing financial assistance and signposting to support agencies.

-Provide counselling services for patients, family and carers throughout the illness journey and bereavement counselling as appropriate.

The CCG currently has a contract in place with Cancer Black Care to provide the above services. The term of this contract is 6 months, 1st October 2021 - 31st March 2022 (value: £37,500.00) during which time, the CCG will consider the long-term service model and assess the needs of the service users by: -Securing the needs of the people who use the services

-Improve the quality of the services

-Improve the efficiency in the provision of the services including through the services being provided in an integrated way

NWL CCG is currently of the view that the services described are capable of being provided only by Cancer Black Care as they have community reach and their service provides a culturally targeted approach by supporting BAME residents to develop effective ways of coping with the impact of cancer on their lives.

If it is the case that Cancer Black Care is the only provider capable of delivering the services described, then the CCG will look to award a further contract to Cancer Black Care for up to 3 years starting on 1st April 2022. The purpose of this notice is to be transparent about the CCG's intentions and to invite anyone interested in delivering the services described above to contact us by 4th March 2022.

During 2022, it is anticipated that NWL CCG will be succeeded by an Integrated Care Board (ICB).