Expressions of Interest for the Provision of Employment Advisors (EA) in Improving Access to Psychology Therapies (IAPT) services.

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (NHS Arden & GEM CSU) on behalf of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified providers capable of delivering Employment Advisory (EA) Services that will support the current IAPT services across Derbyshire.

The services will provide an integrated service that brings together employment advice and support with IAPT provision.

The service aims to support people with common mental health problems who are either:

• In work but struggling
• In work but off sick/suspended from work; or
• Out of work

IAPT therapists and EAs will be expected to work together to ensure that a personalised integrated package of care is available to all clients who choose to be supported in this way to remain in, get back to and find work.

The expected service outcomes will include:

• Individuals with common mental health problems are supported to gain, return to, or retain employment.
• The clients using the service have improved mental health, employment position and benefit status

The expected strategic outcomes will include:

• Reduction of structural barriers to integrated working around employment support and health
• Enhanced collaboration between EA in IAPT providers and relevant local stakeholders including trade unions; JobCentre Plus; and local employers
• Creation of specialist employment support capacity to meet local population health needs, promote good health outcomes, and reduce health inequalities

The aim of this Expression of Interest is to;

1. Allow the market visibility of the proposed opportunity;
2. To inform the CCG's decision-making process for the future commissioning of EA in IAPT services
3. To help refine the future commissioning and procurement approach and;
4. To gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity to deliver maintain and strengthen services across Derbyshire as illustrated above.

If you wish to express an interest please register on the EU Supply Portal.

The EU supply link is https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=UK ref ID no. 44603

Once registered please complete the questions which asks providers to give details about your organisation's name and postal address, email address, contact name and number along with your capability and experience of delivering a similar service to the one summarised above.

Bidders who have expressed an interest in this market testing exercise will have the opportunity to submit a separate response to the Contract Notice as applicable.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest responses is by 17:00pm on 4th June 2021.

Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the CCG to carry out a procurement process. Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements.