BNSSG ICB- Womankind

Description

A women's counselling service for diverse groups of women with chronic, enduring and severe mental health needs, which greatly affect the quality of their lives and their ability to take an active role in society. Service users in receipt of counselling from the service are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are on low incomes and benefits. Lot 1: NHS Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset ICB give this notice as an intention to award. Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably.The service offers a women's counselling service to diverse groups of women with chronic, enduring and severe mental health needs, which greatly affect the quality of their lives and their ability to take an active role in society. Service users in receipt of counselling from the service are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are on low incomes and benefits. Womankind provides the following to those accessing the service: • A minimum of 16 counselling sessions each week (ie. Total service delivery/week and not per individual service user) • Each service user will receive two clinical assessment appointments (including a risk assessment) followed by weekly counselling for up to six months (24 sessions). All service users will be offered a three month follow-up appointment • 32 service users supported per year The service is unique as it provides longer term general counselling in a women only setting. The counselling aims to help women to improve their mental health and to live independent lives within their community and to enable them to care for themselves and their dependents. The service operates from an accessible city centre location: Womankind, 3rd Floor Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE. The contract has been awarded for the period 01/04/2026 - 31/03/2029 Approximate lifetime value of the contract: £165,324 (at 2025/26 value) This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Gloucestershire ICB are currently working together in a formal "clustering" arrangement to prepare for their merger into a single, new organisation (name to be confirmed), effective from 1st April 2027.