Contract for the Provision of Staff and Student Counselling Services

Queen’s have a requirement for the Provision of Staff and Student Counselling Services. The University’s requirements have been spilt into the following two Lots:

Lot 1: Provision of an Employee Assistance Programme

The University is fully committed to the wellbeing of its staff and recognises that many staff have competing demands on their time and resources, both inside and outside work.

The importance of achieving and maintaining a satisfactory work/life balance is fundamental to the maintenance of good health and wellbeing, and counselling has been shown to be of benefit to those who are in need of support and guidance on a wide variety of personal, social and occupational issues.

The Employee Assistance Programme will supplement the other sources of support to staff which include their line management, the People and Culture Directorate, the Occupational Health Service, Trade Union advisers etc.

The current service usage includes approximately 720 personal counselling sessions delivered to approximately 160 new clients per year, using a maximum six session counselling model. Counselling is mainly delivered face to face, but telephone and online video sessions must also be allowed.

Lot 2: Provision of a Student Counselling Hub

By working in partnership with the University’s Student Wellbeing and Accessible Learning Support the Supplier will be required to mobilise their diverse and inclusive workforce to provide an effective, timely, confidential and professional psychological therapy and support service through a ‘matched stepped care model’.

In addition, the Supplier will have responsible for:

• Appropriate signposting and onward referral to NHS or third sector providers for specialist or longer-term support for complex cases.
• Clinical governance
• Service marketing and accessibility
• Delivery in partnership with the University

Please note that provision of services under Lot 2 is to Queen's University registered students only and does not include students from University Colleges or INTO Queen’s.

Suppliers are invited to tender for one or both Lots. There are no restrictions on how many Lots a Supplier can apply for. Each Lot will be evaluated independently against the evaluation criteria as set out in the Tender Response Pack and Queen’s reserves the right to award each lot separately. The award in respect of each Lot shall be made to one Supplier.