Inverclyde Council on behalf of Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and in conjunction with Inverclyde Council’s Education Service seeking a provider to deliver a new service for the provision of an early help service to promote and improve the mental health, emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and young people who are negatively affected or are at risk of being affected by poor mental health. This will be a counselling service delivered predominantly in schools, but also where necessary in homes and community settings, to support children and young people aged 5 to 18 years.

The service will be child centred and governed by the Inverclyde GIRFEC Practice Guidance with a single point referral system and one door philosophy of help and support. It will deliver key strands of activities including but not limited to the following:

a) One to one counselling and assessment and interventions for children and young people (including intensive interventions /crisis-based work depending on need);

b) Group work;

c) Drop in sessions for children & young people in schools;

d) Improved links with GPs, community link workers and primary care and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CAMHS; 2.11.

e) Support to parents and families to support children and young persons;

f) Support and consultation for teachers and school staff;

g) Professional learning and training for teachers and staff to increase capacity and resilience to respond, manage and safety plan for children & young people.

h) Utilisation of technology to support engagement, virtual approaches and delivery of the service;

i) Preventative activities with the broader population to raise the profile of the service;

j) Development and delivery of appropriate promotional and communication media and materials for the service to raise awareness of the service and how to access the service;

k) Provision of a service throughout the school holidays; and

l) Link and work collaboratively with existing services.