Young People's Online Counselling - SEL CCG

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN). South East London CCG is looking to re-procure its Young People's Online Counselling Provision ahead of the upcoming expiry of its current contract.

The service will be required to deliver an early intervention, easy to access, online, in and out of hours counselling and support service to young people aged 10 up to their 26th birthday; people living, attending school, corporately cared for by the local authority or with GP registration in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich.

The Service Provider shall provide:

• a young person friendly, safe and easy to use website which is secure and allows a secure exchange of communication between the service provider and service user.
• active local promotion of service (including marketing materials) to schools and other appropriate community settings to both professionals and young people.
• support to the communication lead with plans to increase engagement with the platform
• a choice of qualified psychotherapists and counsellors to deliver counselling sessions who are trained to address mental health concerns.
• drop in online chats for service users with qualified psychotherapists, counsellors and Emotional Wellbeing Practitioners
• booked 1:1 counselling sessions for service users with qualified psychotherapists and counsellors.
• moderated group chats and themed message forums for service users based on particular themes and issues that affect young people’s emotional and mental health.
• joint integrated working with CAMHS to enable step-up access
• regular performance monitoring information that demonstrates the type of concerns children and young people are presenting with and improved outcomes as a result of accessing services
• service administration including an online platform and software licence

The online platform will be accessible 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The online live text chat counselling function will be available 12 noon to 10pm Monday to Friday and 6pm to 10pm Saturday and Sunday with reduced cover Christmas day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The provider must be British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited.

It is expected that following a procurement process in early 2022, the new contract will run for a period of two years with a further extension option of up to two years (maximum four years in total).

The total value of the contract (over four years) will be £2,200,000, which equates to £550,000 per annum (including irrecoverable VAT).