The Commissioners (Birmingham and Solihull CCG and Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG) wish to establish a contract for the provision of a mental health carers service providing a range of services to support carers who care for individuals registered with a Birmingham GP Practice. This service (Contract 3) will have close links to the Young Carers Service (Contract 2) and the Birmingham Carers HUB (Contract 1), all services are separate procurements. The contract duration will be for a period of 31 months (unless terminated earlier under the terms of the contract) with the option to extend for an additional 24 months.

The service being procured is to provide a range of specialist information, advice, one to one and group/peer support to carers of both adults and children with mental health needs. The service provides person-centred support based on needs identified by the carer; these may include health and wellbeing support; advice and support to engage with clinicians and services; support to access respite; information about mental health issues; support around social issues including employment, housing and finances; supported access to opportunities for social engagement.

The service is provided to carers of adults and children with mental health needs (including those accessing mental health services in primary, secondary or tertiary care or those who have not yet accessed services or have disengaged from services). Carers can be of any age including young carers (those aged 4–17 years old).

Objectives of the service:

— to improve outcomes, independence and choices for mental health carers, caring for both adults and children with mental health issues. This includes carers of adults, including young mental health carers (aged 4–17 years) and adults caring for young people (under 18 years) with mental health issues,

— to engage mental health carers in the development and evaluation of the service and to manage and respond effectively to concerns or complaints raised by carers,

— to recognise and value the role and expertise of carers,

— to proactively engage with underrepresented groups of carers (this may include but limited to: BME groups, disabled carers, LGBT carers, those not registered with a Birmingham GP),

— to develop effective referral process and signposting arrangements with key partner agencies in health and social care,

— working from numerous locations across the Birmingham and Solihull CCG footprint, including with Early Help and Wellbeing Hubs and Crisis Cafés,

— developing a referral pathway and presence within CMHT’s and GP practices,

— to provide access to high quality information resources,

— to provide a range of support to mental health carers based upon a holistic understanding of their needs,

— to help carers to mitigate the financial impact of caring,

— to support carers to enjoy a life outside caring and gain access to respite from their caring role,

— to help protect children from inappropriate carer roles and to engage with agencies and organizations providing services to children across health, education and social care,

— to help ensure that carers are recognised and supported as expert care partners,

— to help ensure that carers stay mentally and physically well and are treated with dignity and respect,

— to provide a service that identifies, includes and gives due regard and consideration to mental health carers regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief and any other factors,

— to provide intelligence in respect of the needs to carers to information policy and practice amongst local mental health providers.