Purpose

This report seeks approval of the Procurement Strategy for the Perinatal Mental Health Community Peer Support Service. The service supports pregnant women and new parents experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression, providing practical and emotional support through trained peer supporters with lived experience of similar mental health challenges.

The current service, Parents Matter is delivered by Coram Family Lives. Following service user, stakeholder and market engagement, the proposed new service will continue to support families from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday, engage fathers as well as mothers, provide good quality support and incentives for unpaid peer supporters, strengthen engagement with Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority communities, and deliver support in accessible community locations close to home where possible.

Following market engagement, the Council received interest from several potential providers. This indicates that there is an active provider market and that more than one provider may be capable of delivering the service. On this basis, a competitive process under the Provider Selection Regime is considered the most appropriate route to market. 

Officers intend to procure a service for a period of 48 months from 1st April 2027 to the 31st March 2031 for an estimated total contract value of £440,000 over the proposed contract term. 

This report is presented to the Director of Health and Wellbeing to approve in line with Contract Standing Orders.

Decision

THAT the Director of Health and Wellbeing approves the procurement strategy for the Perinatal Mental Health Community Peer Support Service, which includes a price/quality split of 30/70 and a contract term of 48 months, for an estimated aggregate value of £440,000.