Young People’s Digital Mental Health Support Service (10-25)

Description

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council intends to secure the services of an experienced and suitably qualified organisation to deliver a digital mental health support service for young people (10-25). This is a 39 month contract with two 12-month optional extensions. Contract start: 1st January 2025 Contract end (initial term): 31st March 2028 Lot 1: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice in line with Direct Award Process C (award to the incumbent). The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on Wednesday 30th October. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. The proposed contracting arrangements are not changing considerably, and the authority is of the view that the incumbent is satisfying the existing contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard, taking into account basic selection criteria and the five key criteria. Contract title: Young People’s Digital Mental Health Support Service (10-25) Contract reference: DN730800 Name and address of the registered office or principal place of business of the provider to whom an award is to be made: Kooth Limited 5 Merchant Square London W2 1AY United Kingdom Description of the relevant health care services to which the contract relates, including the most relevant CPV code: Online Mental Health Support Services for Children & Young People in Sefton aged 10-25. A digital mental health platform that gives children and young people (CYP) immediate access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced, accredited counsellors. CPV Code: 85323000-9 - Community health services Approximate lifetime value of the contract: £682,500 over the life of the contract including extensions Award decision-makers: The Cabinet Members of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council Reasons for selecting the chosen provider, with reference to the five key criteria. Quality and Innovation The service demonstrates through evidence that they deliver a high-quality service, that ensures stringent safety processes, regular auditing, and feedback of learning to staff. Proposal of a new app-based system demonstrates good innovation and offers another way for young people to access the service. Value Published evidence indicates that Kooth's model provides good value for money, achieving positive health outcomes and cost savings. The assessors were unable to benchmark against similar services due to there being nothing comparable. The feedback on the service from Sefton's children and young people is very positive. There is potential for higher impact from this service and a proposed engagement plan is likely to result in improved uptake of the service offer. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability Kooth demonstrates a good level of informal integration achieved through collaboration. The organisation is very collaborative and operates by linking in with key partners and stakeholders to embed Kooth into the borough and promote the offer to our children and young people. They also work to support other areas of the system where there could be a gap, for example for those on the waiting list for other services. Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice Kooth has demonstrated good knowledge of the local barriers to access and has been working towards improving uptake in the more deprived areas of the borough. They are also well linked in with the CVF sector of the borough and with key partners of the council. The anonymity of the service promotes more open dialogue and therefore access. Social value The service has demonstrated compliance with relevant legal frameworks and policies, i.e. Modern Slavery Act. Evidence indicates a good number of staff have lived experience (of LGBT+ specifically). Integration with local partners, schools and system etc may indirectly support social value in that access to EHWB support for this age range can help with school attendance and attainment, social isolation etc enabling children and young people to 'thrive' and achieve better outcomes as adults. As delivery model is predominantly online, environmental footprint is low. Conflicts or potential conflicts of interest and how they were managed The assessment of the incumbent’s performance in relation to the five key criteria was undertaken by a panel of members with expertise in public health. Kooth’s current Relationship Manager is known to Sefton’s Public Health Team, having worked within Sefton’s Public Health Team until November 2023 and remains in touch with two of the officers that have participated in the assessment of the Key Criteria. Two additional officers were invited to participate in the assessment of the key criteria, so that a range of views and perspectives were represented. Additionally, the process was overseen by Sefton’s Procurement Team and a Category Manager chaired the moderation of scores. Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice in line with Direct Award Process C (award to the incumbent). The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on Wednesday 30th October. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.