Purpose

Approval for Procurement of Mental Health
Services

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
1)   
Approve the commencement of a procurement process for the provision
of a Mental Health Prevention Service, for an initial contract term
of three years (proposed as being for the term 1st January 2026 to
31st December 2028), with an option to extend the contract for up
to a further two years, the estimated total contract value being
£4,227,715.00 (excluding VAT).

Alternative options considered

The Council could opt not to recommission
services and allow the current contracts to expire without
replacement arrangements in place for 2026. However, this option
is not recommended, as it would result in the loss of critical
support for approximately 500–600 individuals each year. The
absence of this provision would significantly reduce the
Council’s ability to deliver early intervention and
preventative support, increasing the likelihood of individuals
requiring statutory mental health services to meet eligible needs
under the Care Act 2014.
 
Alternative models of service delivery have
also been explored, including re-commissioning on a ‘like for
like’ basis or contracting for a single provider. However,
these options have been discounted as they do not sufficiently
address the opportunities and challenges identified during the
pre-tender analysis. They are not considered to offer the most
effective or flexible solution to meet current and future service
needs.
 
Commissioning services on a like-for-like
basis risks maintaining existing challenges, such as duplication of
provision, service gaps, fragmented referral pathways, and
inconsistent outcome reporting. Similarly, adopting a single
provider model would limit choice for service users and reduce
opportunities for smaller third sector organisations to contribute.
This could undermine the potential for collaborative delivery
models that bring added value through local expertise and
community-based interventions.