School engagement to support the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of Black and mixed Heritage Children

NHS SEL ICB, hereafter referred to as 'Authority' wishes to commission and identify voluntary sector organisations to engage in this large-scale school engagement initiative. Addressing inequalities in mental healthcare for children and young people across South East London is a priority area of focus for the ICB - to this end, the ICB is partnering with Black Thrive to address mental health inequalities for Black and mixed heritage school aged children, and looking for addition local voluntary sector organisations to engage in community engagement. Based on review of stakeholder feedback and data, the ICB recommended that there is a need to develop and enhance access to trauma-informed, early intervention and prevention wellbeing and mental health support for Black and mixed heritage children. This is in recognition that Black and mixed heritage children have lower rates of referrals to child and adolescent mental health services but higher rates of school suspension/exclusion and detention under the mental health act. This project aims to engage with communities to develop collective solutions by coproducing anti-racist and trauma-informed initiatives. This programme will start in Feb 2025 and last for an initial 18-month period. Black Thrive would work in partnership with any successfully identified organisation, providing advice/guidance on roll out of the programme, delivering training and supervision to any staff working on the programme, and supporting networking and partnership working with other voluntary sector organizations and commissioners for South East London. The VCSE organisation would: 1. Need to represent Black and mixed heritage communities. Ideal voluntary sector partners would have experience include engaging with Black and mixed heritage children, young people, and their families. This may include those who have experienced trauma, racism, discrimination, marginalisation, and which may include addressing mental health/wellbeing needs and/or support avoidance of harm. From March 2025 onwards, build positive and productive relationships with 6 primary schools within the borough to enable (1) mapping of existing offers / baseline understanding of need/challenges (2) collectively agreed solutions. The Contract will commence on 03/02/2025 for an initial period of 18 Months. The annual contract value is £37,000, therefore the total value of the contract is £220,000 (VAT inclusive, as applicable). The Procurement process will be facilitated entirely online via Atamis, the Authority's e-procurement portal. Interested Organisation must express an interest via Atamis. Bidders need to register on Atamis if they are not registered already.