The purpose of the service is to provide an early intervention therapeutic service for children and young people in the city with social, emotional and mental health needs.

In Leeds, the cluster partnerships offer flexible support for a whole range of family and life circumstance and issues. A multi professional conversation at the cluster support and guidance meeting determines the support for families in their area and children attending their schools.

The objectives for the selected providers are to provide qualified mental health practitioners (up to Band 6) who will deliver a free at the point of use early intervention, short term support to children and young people through and co located with the cluster model of intervention.

A core offer in every cluster consists of:

— 1:1 work (Around 6-8 sessions are (up to a maximum of 12 sessions where required),

— staff consultation,

— provide the mental health element of a holistic and integrated approach to assessment and support linked with cluster team that may include capacity to undertake family support work around parenting functioning and relationships.

Depending on local need and decision making, to be negotiated locally, an additional offer of:

— Group work with children and young people on relevant, local topics,

— to provide up to 3 consultation sessions with parents and young people at the beginning of the therapeutic short-term intervention (6-12 sessions).

The contract intended to be offered to any qualified providers at the end of this procurement will be for a duration of 3 years, which is intended to run from 1.9.2020 until 31.8.2023 with the option to extend for up to 2 years, subject to review and agreement between the commissioner and service provider.

As advertised, the anticipated, maximum total contract value for the SEMH services across all the partnership clusters in year 1 will be 800 000 GBP.

In 2018/19 across the cluster partnerships 5 428 referrals were recorded. Within this approximately 1 133 can be identified as those requiring support from commissioned SEMH providers.