NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG is undertaking a procurement for the provision of a primary mental health and talking therapy service (incorporating improving access to psychological therapies).

The contract duration will be 2 years (24 months) with an option to extend for a further 1 years (12 months).

The aims and objectives of the service are:

— to provide a single gateway for all patients requiring treatment and tailored support for common mental health problems at a primary care level,

— to co-ordinate each person’s journey to recovery through the service by utilising a case management approach,

— to support the implementation of NICE guidelines, using evidence based psychological interventions, in the treatment of anxiety and depression,

— to offer a range of wider non-IAPT based interventions ensuring that both adapts and reflects the needs of a diverse population and compliments the delivery of statutory obligations in the delivery of psychological therapies,

— to offer a diverse range of interventions to include remote, face-to-face, group and guided self-help to ensure greater access and patient choice,

— elements of the service delivering to people with LTC and/or MUS will be integrated into existing medical pathways and services,

— services will be co-located with primary care, contingent on local network development,

— provide individualised support to individuals who may have difficulty accessing the therapeutic elements of the service due to difficulties as a result of wider personal, social or clinical factors, that impact on their potential recovery,

— provide a tailored service for pre and post-natal women who do not meet the threshold for specialist perinatal mental health services, but may be at an increased risk due to common mental health problems.

(a) in accordance with the key themes from co-design events the service will:

— provide direct access to a practitioner at the first point of contact,

— provide flexible access (including times) to services so not to exclude individuals in employment or with caring responsibilities,

— effectively assist people who feel they are in crisis and navigate any step up to more specialised services,

— acknowledge and support the role of carers and wider support networks,

— link to wider community-based resources,

— provide an early intervention to prevent the escalation of a problem.