Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, North Staffordshire, South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular, Stafford and Surrounds and Stoke-on-Trent CCGs had commissioned an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service based in various locations across Staffordshire. This is offered on a basis of direct referral to patients registered with GPs contracted with these CCGs. Commissioners wished to procure an IAPT service for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP footprint via a competitive tender for a single lead (or prime) provider. The successful bidder should be expected to work with the community and voluntary sector to deliver the Service, particularly in relation to the non-IAPT element of the service. The overall aim of the services to provide timely and responsive psychological service to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who are experiencing any mental health problem that can be treated effectively in primary care.

Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, North Staffordshire, South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular, Stafford and Surrounds and Stoke-on-Trent CCGs had commissioned an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service based in various locations across Staffordshire. This is offered on a basis of direct referral to patients registered with GPs contracted with these CCGs. Commissioners undertook a competitive tender for an IAPT service on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP footprint for a single lead (or prime) provider. The successful bidder will be expected to work with the community and voluntary sector to deliver the service, particularly in relation to the non-IAPT element of the service. The overall aim of the service is to provide timely and responsive psychological service to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who are experiencing any mental health problem that can be treated effectively in primary care - a single point of access for all mental health problems in primary care. This will include both:

— the treatment of common mental health problems (depression and anxiety disorders) where those conditions can be managed in primary care, as part of the improving access to psychological therapies programme, delivered by IAPT workers,

— the treatment of other 'Non-IAPT' mental health problems that can benefit from an evidence-based psychological therapy, delivered by 'Non-IAPT' workers (e.g. community mental health nurses, counselors, therapists, recovery/support workers, peer support workers and other mental health professionals. The successful provider shall deliver a high quality, patient-centred service that enables people with mental health problems to improve their well-being and functionality, thereby reducing the need for more specialist services (either for their mental or physical health). Therefore, the service shall also provide the connectivity for service users in terms of their wider care, ensuring that it is inclusive of both mental health and physical health problems.

Delivery will be an integral aspect of primary care services therefore flexibility will be key in order to ensure individual GP practice needs can be met. The vision for the service is the provision of an integrated primary care mental health service which is accessible, flexible and innovative in addressing the needs of the individuals accessing the service. In order to achieve this, therapists should work as part of GP practice teams, working flexibly to meet the individual needs of each practice. Commissioners also wish the Service to be integrated with long term condition teams, and primary care teams, providing psychological therapies within a stepped care model, to people who are experiencing common mental health problems (the IAPT section of the service), and advice). A full list of the underlying principles and aims and objectives of the service are provided within the service specification.