Decision details

To seek the Director’s approval for the procurement of a new, online mental health support and counselling service for young people for one year, plus an optional one year extension from 1st October 2017 – 30th September 2018.

That adverts be placed for a minimum of three quotations from professional online mental health counselling service providers in the amount of £30,000, for a period of one year (1 October 2017 – 30 September 2018) plus an optional, one year extension (1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019), with a maximum contract value of £60,000.

The current contract for the KOOTH.com service ends on 30 September 2017.  The provision of online counselling has been well received by many stakeholders,  particularly schools and young people themselves, as a means of improving young people’s access to preventative and early mental health support and advice.  The continued growth in the number of young people accessing mental health advice and support, including counselling, provides confidence that provision of an online service should continue.

Not to commission a service.  This is likely to have an adverse effect on mental health outcomes for young people as well as place an extra burden on other mental health services within the NHS and on support capacity within schools.

None.

Meeting(s) with interested parties.