Provision of Psychological Support to the Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Service

Concepts

• birkenhead
• guidance and counselling
• weight loss
• psychological support
• a mental health service provider
• specialist
• weight
• management
• psychological
• manage

Location

BIRKENHEAD

Description

The Weight Management Service requires a psychological therapist who provides support to patients who are registered with the service in the form of CBT to meet the Nice Guidance criteria for a tier 3 service. Audit has evidenced the benefit of this service to patients in terms of learning, weight loss, eating and activity habits and recognising triggers. Patients felt motivated to lose weight and were able to identify strategies, tools, and techniques to manage lapses. When the Weight Management Service started, local NHS organisations were approached to provide cover through an SLA. Unfortunately, this was not possible to arrange because they were unable to offer any hours. The Bariatric Service had previously worked with Beacon to provide psychological support. The Bariatric Service had also worked with another trust, but this was not so successful and experienced several issues. The Weight Management Service had not recruited to this role because the service was initially for 12 months. As the role is part time it would be difficult to recruit to internally and the Trust does not have the ability to provide the clinical supervision for this post as it is not a mental health service provider. NICE Guidance advises that the psychological therapist input must have an interest in obesity.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Weight Management Service requires a psychological therapist who provides support to patients who are registered with the service in the form of CBT to meet the Nice Guidance criteria for a tier 3 service. Audit has evidenced the benefit of this service to patients in terms of learning, weight loss, eating and activity habits and recognising triggers. Patients felt motivated to lose weight and were able to identify strategies, tools, and techniques to manage lapses. When the Weight Management Service started, local NHS organisations were approached to provide cover through an SLA. Unfortunately, this was not possible to arrange because they were unable to offer any hours. The Bariatric Service had previously worked with Beacon to provide psychological support. The Bariatric Service had also worked with another trust, but this was not so successful and experienced several issues. The Weight Management Service had not recruited to this role because the service was initially for 12 months. As the role is part time it would be difficult to recruit to internally and the Trust does not have the ability to provide the clinical supervision for this post as it is not a mental health service provider. NICE Guidance advises that the psychological therapist input must have an interest in obesity. The current contract was put in place on 01/04/22 for 12 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months. The intention is to award this contract to the same provider on the same basis as previously from 22/04/24 for 12 months with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The annual contract value will be £24,000. Total contract value if extension enacted will be £48,000 This is for the provision of 48 days per year at £500 per day

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. 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 the relevant authority by 19/04/2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. 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 19/04/2024 to heather.thornton5@nhs.net This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Details of the award decision-makers; Fiona Sinnott Specialist Services Manager 05/01/24 Karen Milnes Service Director 20/03/24 Alena Lomax Management Accountant 18/03/2024 Tracy Smith Head of Procurement 20/03/2024 Sharon Clunn Deputy Director of Contracts & Commissioning 23/03/2024 Mark Greatrex Chief Finance Officer 05/04/24 No conflicts or potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the decision were declared. Key Criteria assessed as below: Criterion Weighting (out of 100) Quality and innovation 20 Attends service away days to discuss service review. Attends MDT meetings once a month and has direct patient activity on remaining sessions. Feedback for this part of the service is collected by the Trust - positive feedback. Participates in clinical audit and governance priorities of the service. No change to contract other than the Service Conditions and General Conditions are those of the NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 (Full Length) as published by NHS England (https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/). Value 20 £24,000 per annum (£48000 total contract) (48 days per year at £500 per day). No inflator has been applied to this contract. These are actual days working for the service - not including leave, training etc. This is broadly comparable with costs of psychosexual therapist at a local trust per day which includes leave, training etc. No change to contract except strengthening wording to facilitate clawback of payment if all sessions are not delivered. Integration, Collaboration and service sustainability 20 Provides specialist advice to service users, carers, and other care professionals including GPs. Provides clinical support to other team members e.g., advice regarding suitability for surgery. Works as part of the multi-disciplinary team. This includes liaising with and providing clinical guidance to the team. Produces clinic letters including onward referral letters to the MDT coordinator who shares as appropriate and logs on SystmOne. Maintains accurate, comprehensive, and timely service user records, in accordance with professional and local standards concerning record keeping. These are provided to the MDT coordinator via secure email and inputted onto SystmOne. Actively participates in meetings. Receives clinical line management, appraisal, continued professional development and clinical supervision from the sub-contracting organisation. The Trust cannot provide clinical supervision for this role. No change to contract other than the Service Conditions and General Conditions are those of the NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 (Full Length) as published by NHS England (https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/). Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice 30 The overarching aim of the Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Service is to provide a high-quality programme to support adults who: are overweight/obese with complex co-morbidities through the provision of evidence based quality weight management interventions for those with a BMI of >39.9. The Service encourages life-long behaviour changes for clients in relation to eating and physical exercise. This role provides psychological support to enable people to understand and change behaviour. Service is offered at St Catherine's Health Centre or virtually. Where the patient has unresolved psychological or mental health problems that are likely to prevent them fully engaging with the programme; clients are either referred to psychological services for assessment and treatment prior to starting WMS or in conjunction with the weight management programme. The WMS • Supports clients to set realistic goals that can be achieved and maintained. • Supports regaining independence and self-management of weight. • Supports emotional wellbeing to boost self-esteem. • Provides information and signposting to other services that will complement the programme. • Supports development of coping skills and ability to overcome difficulties. No change to contract other than the Service Conditions and General Conditions are those of the NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 (Full Length) as published by NHS England (https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/). Social Value 10 Provision of CBT as part of the service provision will increase clinical effectiveness, and achievement of patient outcomes. The aim is that this will improve individuals' health and ability to be more actively involved in local economy and improve social interaction and well-being. Although Beacon Counselling Trust is not Wirral based it is Liverpool based therefore providing employment and local benefits within the Cheshire & Merseyside ICB footprint therefore maintaining finances within that footprint.