II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Islington Council and North Central London Integrated Care Board are looking to procure a Mental Health Employment Support Service that will provide specialist support to residents who experience mental health problems in Islington to obtain and maintain paid employment.
The service will deliver tailored mental health support that is effective and provides a positive experience within an inclusive community-based setting. The service will work collaboratively with other mental health, community, and universal services to realise the vision.
The specialist Mental Health Employment Support Service will work closely in partnership with, and complement, the council’s in-house adult employment service iWork, and forms part of the wider Islington Working Partnership, a network of partners who support residents into employment.
The new contract will require a successful bidder to have access to premises, based in the borough, that provides an inclusive, welcoming community atmosphere. Further details on service requirements are outlined in the Service Specification.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Service delivery model
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Service user engagement and coproduction
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Partnerships
/ Weighting: 15
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
2 916 894.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract period will be for 36 months from an estimated start date 1 April 2024 with option to extend up to a further 36 months.
The estimated total value of this contract is £2,916,894 over the 72 months term of the contract. This is based on £486,149 per annum. However the Council is confident the bids received will be lower than the estimated value.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Background
North Central London (NCL) Integrated Care System (ICS) has the highest prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) compared to ICSs across London and England. Diagnosed SMI prevalence is particularly high in Camden and Islington. SMI prevalence has been increasing in recent years, and if the current trajectory continues, we expect to have just over 4,000 individuals with diagnosed SMI in Islington by 2030, an increase of over 100 individuals.
The NHS Long-Term Plan recognises that employment is a major factor in maintaining good mental health and is an important outcome of recovery for people who experience mental health problems. It stipulates the expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with the ambition to support an additional 35,000 people nationally with serious mental illnesses (SMI) by 2023/24, with a total of 55,000 people per year having access to IPS services. NHS England has provided significant additional investment to support implementation of the Long-Term Plan in meeting stretched IPS access targets by 2023/24 and beyond, across the five NCL boroughs.
Islington Council’s vision is that by 2030 there is a sustainable, inclusive, and locally rooted economy in the borough. The council’s commitment to promoting economic wellbeing for residents includes:
1. Empowering residents, particularly those who face the most disadvantage, to secure and retain good quality jobs that are well paid.
2. Providing targeted employment support through the Islington Working Partnership.
3. Actively promoting opportunities, such as volunteering, as a means of building skills and confidence for work.
An in-depth review of Islington mental health employment support provision was completed in March 2023. The review highlighted a number of opportunities to further develop and improve the employment support offer for residents who experience mental health problems, through redesign, collaboration and integration. Following this review, the council is now looking to commission a new contract for a mental health employment support service.