24/7 Student Assistance Programme

Description

The University of Chester is seeking tenders for a 24/7 Student Assistance Programme through the UK Open Procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.The University of Chester is committed to providing a holistic, responsive, and proactive approach to wellbeing and mental health support for our student community. To complement our existing provision within our own Student Services department, and to ensure students have access to wellbeing and mental health support at any time (24/7, 365 days a year), the University of Chester is looking to establish a contract for the provision of both telephone and online wellbeing, counselling, and mental health support. The Service will cover all University of Chester students from enrolment to graduation, which is approximately 14,500 students. We wish to continue with this type of provision following a successful trial with a Student Assistance Programme. Lot 1: The University of Chester is committed to providing a holistic, responsive, and proactive approach to wellbeing and mental health support for our student community. To complement our existing provision within our own Student Services department, and to ensure students have access to wellbeing and mental health support at any time (24/7, 365 days a year), the University of Chester is looking to establish a contract for the provision of both telephone and online wellbeing, counselling, and mental health support. The Service will cover all University of Chester students from enrolment to graduation, which is approximately 14,500 students. We wish to continue with this type of provision following a successful trial with a Student Assistance Programme.This service will provide confidential support for a range of matters that may impact student wellbeing and mental health and seek to resolve, manage and prevent issues where possible. Tenderers must be able to 1. Offer 24/7/365 telephone/video-call and online support for students requiring in-the-moment wellbeing and/or mental health information, advice and guidance. The call will incorporate assessment and triage. 2. Offer the option of a six-session model of online or telephone counselling that is BACP accredited. Providing a range of therapeutic approaches to suit the needs of individual student users. Up to 6 sessions, per student, per issue, per year, with sessions available seven days a week, including evenings. 3. Provide legal information services including information and signposting for concerns provided by appropriately qualified legal advisers (week days/office hours).4. Medical, health and lifestyle advice provided by appropriately qualified staff, for example qualified nurses (week days/office hours).5. Debt and financial information provided by appropriately qualified Money Advisers, including access to long term support via StepChange or other similar registered debt management charity (week days/office hours).6. Language Line options where a student can be transferred to an interpreter or translation service to aid them with discussing their concerns.7. Provision of digital support options via a mobile app, which includes Live Chat/WhatsApp contact options, structured health programmes, mini health checks and self-help materials. 8. Robust risk management and clinical management processes, with effective partnership working that includes informing Student Services of any University of Chester student that is deemed ‘high’ risk.9. Feedback meetings and a minimum of a quarterly management information (MI) data summary and monthly top-level data summary. Data to measure impact, demographics and clinical outcomes, including providing insights on themes which would benefit from organisational action.10. Effective implementation and ongoing promotion to ensure visibility and student awareness.11. Must have experience of providing this service to students in a higher education environment Further details are available in the tender documents. Please note the estimated total value includes the optional extension periods.