NHS Chorley & South Ribble CCG, NHS Greater Preston CCG, NHS Morecambe Bay CCG, NHS West Lancashire CCG, NHS Blackpool CCG and NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG Online Counselling Service for 11-16 year olds

Chorley & South Ribble Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Greater Preston CCG, Morecambe Bay CCG, West Lancashire CCG, Blackpool CCG and Fylde and Wyre CCG are inviting suitably experienced and qualified organisations to participate in this 'Invitation to Tender' for an online counselling service for 11-16 year olds. This service will support children and young people with emotional wellbeing and/or emerging mental health problems, many of whom will require a low level/targeted/short-term intervention. Online counselling has the potential to revolutionise the way in which we provide support to children and young people. It opens up access out of traditional working hours and allows young people to contact counsellors from their own home or at a location preferred to them and via a digital medium they are comfortable with. Online forums also empower young people by helping them to learn more about the problems they are facing and facilitating the sharing of experiences with others going through the same difficulties. A service specification is available on request which provides further details regarding the service being commissioned. There is an existing contract in place to deliver this service that is due to end on the 30th September 2019. The new contract is intended to be for an initial period of 6 months with the option to extend up to a further 2 years. It is proposed that the new contract commences at the earliest opportunity following the award of contract (end of September 2019), however a suitable mobilisation/transition period will be agreed with the new provider prior to the full commencement of the new contract. The contract value for the initial 6 months is £81,730.