NW2023-27 Tier 3.5 - 4 Enhanced Psychological Services NHS Norfolk & Waveney ICB

During the Covid-19 pandemic a staff support hub was set up in Norfolk & Waveney as part of a national initiative to provide additional mental health support to health & social care staff who were struggling with the impact of Covid. National funding for these hubs ceased in March 2023, with each ICS required to provide health & social care staff a similar level of support to the Covid hubs on an on-going basis.<br/><br/>Following a review of existing service provision, commissioners have identified the need to develop tier 3.5 - 4 enhanced psychological services (EPS) to complement existing tier 1-3 provision. The service is targeted at staff with more complex clinical presentations that typically require a higher degree of face-to-face interventions. The tier 3.5 - 4 enhanced psychological services will primarily support individual staff with their mental health but will also occasionally be offered to their wider teams.<br/><br/>The transitional funding provided by the local ICB expires at the end of the ‘23/’24 financial year, with each ICS organisation required to fund support for its own staff with effect from April ’24. A combination of existing service provision and financial constraints means that the EPS service will only be commissioned by 3 of the 5 local NHS trusts (Norfolk & Norwich, James Paget, and Norfolk Community Health & Care), as well as the ICB. This procurement seeks to establish a common service, with each trust contracting separately with the chosen provider.