SC240054 Local Stop Smoking Service-Alternative Support Pilot

This is a notice of award following a competitive procurement as required under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The Service will form part of the Council’s unified smoking offer to Kent residents. The Service involves delivering a pilot to test an alternative approach to delivering stop smoking support in Kent. The Service will involve delivering an alternative approach to delivering behavioural stop smoking support, which does not include pharmacotherapy or Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) and is designed to appeal to smokers wanting to quit smoking but not inclined to access traditional stop smoking services. A traditional support offer is defined as a quit programme that comprises of 7 weeks of behavioural support. This support also includes Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and/or pharmacotherapy.

The alternative approach will be an existing model ready to be mobilised to limit the amount of time required to start supporting Kent Residents. The Provider will be responsible for marketing and promoting the Service to residents of Kent. This will involve detailing how to access the Service. All marketing would need to be agreed by the Council before being published. The Service will deliver a stop smoking service which will include evidence-based support and to enable the individual to become tobacco free. It will include harm reduction initiatives. The Provider will ensure all those accessing the Service will set a quit date and then monitor and record whether the person has achieved a 4 week quit outcome. Quits will be validated by Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitoring where possible.

The Provider will ensure a menu of service delivery options are available; to provide approaches that are tailored to individuals’ and groups’ needs and preferences, being aware that not all people accessing the Service have access to, or may not wish to use, technology or the internet. People accessing the Service will be given a range of options around the support they receive. This should include locally tailored services, which can include but not be limited to:

• Digital support (e.g. Telephone, Online Conferencing Software, Text and Video support)
• Face to face interventions
• Online videos/resources
• Individual/Group Sessions.