PIN Notice: Counselling Services in Bedfordshire

ELFT delivers IAPT psychological therapies services in Bedfordshire (excluding Luton), and currently commissions Counselling provision to an external provider. The Trust is currently seeking expressions of interest to deliver the counselling service.

The counselling service must be delivered in line with the IAPT model and use the Trust’s clinical record system to maintain accurate records of appointments attended, outcome measures, etc. in line with the national Minimum Data Set (MDS) for IAPT.

Due to Covid-19 both the overall IAPT service and the Counselling component are currently being delivered mainly by video and telephone but in future we expect to return to offering face-to-face delivery for those who prefer it. Therefore an existing local presence in Bedfordshire, or the ability to develop this quickly, would be an advantage.

The service consists of a time-limited course of counselling following the principles of the national IAPT programme. The provider will be expected to accept referrals following assessment by ELFT IAPT clinicians, managing the waiting list effectively to keep waiting times at an acceptable level, and delivering effective therapy to help service users to achieve a Recovery outcome, as defined in the IAPT manual. The service will provide brief counselling, recording the IAPT minimum data set at each appointment, with a target to deliver at least 200 attended appointments per month (likely to equate to around 40-45 people per month starting treatment). These activity targets may be increased (in agreement with the provider) to reflect increasing local access targets and/or demand for counselling.

The provider will operate as an integral part of the Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service and adhere to its performance, operational, and safeguarding standards.

Expression of Interest Questions

Please demonstrate with relevant examples (500 words each) -

1. Your experience of delivering an IAPT-compliant counselling service to a diverse population and delivering positive experiences and clinical outcomes for service users, with particular reference to the recovery rate.
2. Your ability to recruit, maintain and manage a workforce sufficient to achieve contractual activity targets, including ability to expand to meet contractual changes or short-term spikes in demand? Please highlight your strategies and track record.
3. How will you ensure that the counselling service is able to offer treatment appointments in a timely manner to ensure that the service achieves the national 90-day waiting time standard?

Please submit your responses via Proactis Due-North Project DN522507.