--- title: "PIN Notice: Counselling Services in Bedfordshire" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST" published: "2021-03-27" --- # PIN Notice: Counselling Services in Bedfordshire Buyer: EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb8d845b-e9bc-424d-9c11-fa38a0cbbee6.json) ## Summary The East London NHS Foundation Trust is currently in the planning stage for a public procurement titled "PIN Notice: Counselling Services in Bedfordshire". This contract, valued at £500,000, aims to secure counselling services in Bedfordshire under the IAPT model. Key milestones include an engagement end date of 23rd April 2021, during which potential providers are invited to express their interest. The procurement process seeks to identify capable suppliers who can provide services both via video/telephone and, eventually, face-to-face, ensuring local presence in Bedfordshire is advantageous. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in counselling and psychological therapy, particularly those familiar with the IAPT framework. Companies that can demonstrate experience in delivering IAPT-compliant services to diverse populations and managing contractual activity targets effectively are well-suited to compete. Additionally, local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to consider this opportunity, as the provider will have to manage a workforce that meets increasing demand while adhering to stringent performance and operational standards. ## Notice ELFT delivers IAPT psychological therapies services in Bedfordshire (excluding Luton), and currently commissions Counselling provision to an external provider. The Trust is currently seeking expressions of interest to deliver the counselling service. The counselling service must be delivered in line with the IAPT model and use the Trust's clinical record system to maintain accurate records of appointments attended, outcome measures, etc. in line with the national Minimum Data Set (MDS) for IAPT. Due to Covid-19 both the overall IAPT service and the Counselling component are currently being delivered mainly by video and telephone but in future we expect to return to offering face-to-face delivery for those who prefer it. Therefore an existing local presence in Bedfordshire, or the ability to develop this quickly, would be an advantage. The service consists of a time-limited course of counselling following the principles of the national IAPT programme. The provider will be expected to accept referrals following assessment by ELFT IAPT clinicians, managing the waiting list effectively to keep waiting times at an acceptable level, and delivering effective therapy to help service users to achieve a Recovery outcome, as defined in the IAPT manual. The service will provide brief counselling, recording the IAPT minimum data set at each appointment, with a target to deliver at least 200 attended appointments per month (likely to equate to around 40-45 people per month starting treatment). These activity targets may be increased (in agreement with the provider) to reflect increasing local access targets and/or demand for counselling. The provider will operate as an integral part of the Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service and adhere to its performance, operational, and safeguarding standards. Expression of Interest Questions Please demonstrate with relevant examples (500 words each) - 1) Your experience of delivering an IAPT-compliant counselling service to a diverse population and delivering positive experiences and clinical outcomes for service users, with particular reference to the recovery rate. 2) Your ability to recruit, maintain and manage a workforce sufficient to achieve contractual activity targets, including ability to expand to meet contractual changes or short-term spikes in demand? Please highlight your strategies and track record. 3) How will you ensure that the counselling service is able to offer treatment appointments in a timely manner to ensure that the service achieves the national 90-day waiting time standard? Please submit your responses via Proactis Due-North Project DN533507. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/082062c1-eded-498e-9420-a8e01facc171 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Mar 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Apr 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | East London | | Postcode | E1 8DE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East | | ITL 3 | TLI42 Tower Hamlets | | Local authority | Tower Hamlets | | Electoral ward | Whitechapel | | Westminster constituency | Bethnal Green and Stepney | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85312320 - Counselling services ## Release History - 27 Mar 2021 at 15:56 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/082062c1-eded-498e-9420-a8e01facc171 - 18 Mar 2021 at 18:18 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9ef21fde-7365-40bd-be36-99d9a1e7ee65 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/082062c1-eded-498e-9420-a8e01facc171 27th March 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9ef21fde-7365-40bd-be36-99d9a1e7ee65 18th March 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - http://www.elft.nhs.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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