The contract is to provide an integrated counselling and therapeutic service for children and young people, aged 8-18, with the aim to increase access from CYP into therapeutic and counselling services, including vulnerable groups.

To provide evidence based counselling and therapeutic services within the London Borough of Islington for localCYP aged 8-18 who meet the eligibility criteria (see below).

Objectives:

— to deliver age appropriate evidenced based interventions (in line with CYP IAPT) for children and young people aged 8-11 and aged 12-18, working in integration with other providers where required,

— to increase access into therapeutic and counselling service for CYP with particular focus on vulnerable groups of CYP. These will include CYP in crisis, those at the edge of the Youth Justice System, those with learning disabilities/ASC and looked after children,

— base a dedicated clinician at the social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) single point of access (SPA)/Children’s services contact (CSCT) front door. This clinician will work with the CAMHS clinician based within this team with assessments and referrals into a range of community provision, not restricted to the counselling and therapeutic services provided through this contract,

— establish clear referral pathways from the SEMH front door team into appropriate third sector counselling and therapeutic provision, including integrated services and other services within the local borough,

— to engage in close partnership working with a range of service including CSCT and Community CAMHS, Isledon Arts CIC and the Third Sector Provider Network,

— to work in an integrated way with all of the above and with other statutory and voluntary sector services,

— deliver the service for CYP through a range of accessible venues within the local borough, including local Youth Hubs,

— provide flexible opening hours, including evenings and saturdays, to increase choice and accessibility for CYP,

— have a robust data collection system, including data flow into the National Mental Health Service DataSet (MHSDS), to record activity and outcomes and to feedback on referral outcomes to referrers,

— provide interventions and/or workshops for CYP transitioning from primary into secondary school.

Eligibility criteria:

— Islington residents,

— registered with an Islington GP,

— in school in Islington,

— ‘Looked After’ by Islington Council.

Interdependence with other services/providers:

— Children’s services contact team (CSCT),

— community CAMHS,

— Isledon Arts CIC,

— third sector provider network,

— play and youth services.