GB-Leicester: Sexual Health Promotion & HIV Prevention- Sex Workers

Description: Health and social work services. Social work and related services. Miscellaneous health services. Health training services. Community health services. Other community, social and personal services. Social work services. Medical practice and related services. Medical practice services. Provision of services to the community. Medical specialist services. Leicester City Council is seeking a clinically led services that aims to:

• protect the sexual health of the women working in the sex industry and their clients,
• prevent the transmission of STIs and HIV between these two groups and the wider community and to prevent unintended pregnancies.

The work is with three distinct client groups. Outreach with

• Women working in Saunas
• Women selling sex from flats
• Street based Sex work (SBSW)

It is acknowledged that access to SBSWs is difficult & requires the development of a trusting relationship. The provider may need to subcontract, work in a consortium or through a partnership with the local voluntary sector in Leicester who has knowledge and relationships for this element.

Sex work refers to the exchange of sexual services for some form of payment, usually money or drugs. Over the last few years sex work has changed with a reduction in Street based sex work (SBSW).

Sex work in Leicester is in three sectors; Street based sex workers (SBSW), Sex workers in flats and Sex workers working in saunas and massage parlours. The number of women involved in each of these areas of sex work fluctuates.

SBSWs have multiple and complex problems, most have substance misuse issues, which drive or exacerbate their need to earn money from selling sex. Health needs include substance addiction, mental & physical health problems. Many SBSW have been in the care system as a child. In Leicester the majority of SBSW are of white British ethnicity, with a small group of Eastern European women. The current voluntary sector service provider has built a relationship of trust over a number of years with SBSWs which provides insight and information that is useful to the police & others about the sex industry in Leicester.

Flat & sauna based women come from a variety of backgrounds, including Thai, Eastern European and white British women. Some will have complex health needs while others will live ordered lives with few exceptional health needs. Sexual health advice & information is important to all in this group.

There is a gap in the provision of sexual health promotion & HIV prevention services to women in saunas and flats.

The Tender seeks to secure a service Provider for the provision Sexual Health Promotion & HIV Prevention-Sex Workers.

The contract is to commence 1 April 2016 for an initial period of 33 months, until 31 December 2018 with the possibility to extend for a further 3 months until 31 March 2019 subject to satisfactory performance outcomes & agreement by the Council. The total contract value is £165,000

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.