Mental Health Safe Haven/Crisis Cafe in Reading

Berkshire West CCG is looking to expand services in Reading for people experiencing a mental health crisis. With services expected to start in Summer 2021 from provider premises in Reading the CCG is looking to award a 3 year, plus 1 year optional extension, contract. The CCG expects this provision to improve access to mental health services and reduce the number of people in mental health crisis attending the A&E department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Additional benefits are likely to be reduced use of Police resources to support people in crisis and the improvement of mental health services as detailed in the NHS Long Term Plan (December 2018). The main aim of this service is to offer a safe space for those in mental health crisis to alleviate emotional and psychological distress in a community setting. • To provide an alternative provision to attending A&E for anyone experiencing or at risk of escalating to a mental health crisis including people with learning disabilities • Offer a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment whilst promoting independence, opportunity, and recovery for all adult mental health service users in the community. • Promote & empower service users by giving them the opportunity to identify their own needs; making their own choices about what will help them; develop their own coping strategies and tools, recognise their own strengths and talents; encourage hope and to work towards improving their own emotional wellbeing. • To create an integrated preventative and crisis management provision by developing partnerships with service users, carers, statutory and non-statutory organisations • Provide a comfortable 'homely' environment that is safe for service users, carers, and staff (people). • Encourage service users to access, create, and promote their own social networks. • Promote and support inclusion of vulnerable groups identified within Berkshire - BAME communities, & young males, LGBTQ, gender-based violence, and the wider student population. The tender documentation provides further details of the service envisaged. The CCG invites organisations who are interested in providing this service to tender via the portal described later in this notice. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.