B&NES Wellness Service

B&NES Council is seeking to recommission an integrated Wellness Service. The Wellness Service aims to improve the health of individuals and communities by providing support to address factors that influence physical health and emotional wellbeing. The Service has a particular focus on addressing health inequalities, through system workforce capacity building, working directly with communities to design and deliver sustainable programmes and services, and targeted support to individuals.

It is proposed that the Service will provide;

• A universal prevention offer to support self-care and health improvement.
• A triage function for the B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub and access to Wellness services.
• A health coach function working with priority individuals and delivering specific behaviour change interventions.
• An emotional and mental wellbeing function supporting people to develop and/or maintain their independence within the community.
• A community capacity building function co-developing and delivering culturally appropriate, holistic support in partnership with communities.
• A system co-ordination and capacity building function to increase prevention capacity.
• A small grant function to support development and delivery of self-care and prevention opportunities by local groups.

The proposed contract length is for 4 years with up to 2-year extension option.

The contract will start in April 2025.

A market engagement event will take place on 12th June 2024, 12.30 – 2.30 pm, Kapsovar Room, Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 5AW.

Please could you confirm your interest in attending by emailing [email protected] with details of your name, organisation, position, email and telephone number.

The Wellness Service will support delivery of B&NES Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and implementation of the local Whole Systems Health Improvement Framework.

Wellness Service Aims:

• To support people to improve their health and well-being and build personal resilience.
• To build the capacity of local communities and organisations to engage in and develop health promoting activity and opportunities.
• To address health inequalities by ensuring those most at risk of poor health outcomes are prioritised for support.

Objectives

• To provide a single point of reference and contact for both professionals and the public for evidence-based health improvement information and advice, training, resources and local support offers.
• To offer evidence based behavioural support to achieve personal health and wellbeing goals and strengthen personal resilience.
• To work with local organisations and community groups to gain insight into community needs and work collaboratively in the co-production of local health promotion activities.
• To build the prevention capacity of the local system through organisational and workforce development activities that improve knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively support people and communities to improve their health.
• To work in partnership to tackle inequalities in health outcomes in the context of local communities, including as an active partner in the B&NES Whole Systems Health Improvement Framework network, supporting system wide action on agreed health improvement priorities.

The proposed key functions include;

• A universal prevention and self-care portal supporting access to evidence based information, advice, tools and local services, including a volunteer brokerage function enabling access to a range of volunteering opportunities in the local area.
• A triage service to effectively manage wellness service referrals, assess need and motivation and guide people to services and support. The service will also provide the triage function for the B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub. The Hub provides a joined-up system response enabling individuals to access a wide range of social and community-based support with money, housing, employment and mental health support through community partners.
• Health coaching support for individual behaviour change. To support those with specific needs and those requiring more intensive support. The service will provide smoking cessation support, alcohol identification and brief advice and access to exercise on referral schemes and other physical activity opportunities. It will also provide an outreach function into communities and workplaces to deliver health improvement support and health checks (NHS Health Checks and general CVD health checks).
• Emotional and mental wellbeing support. A low-level preventative service designed to support people to develop and/or maintain their independence within the community, avoiding the need for more intensive forms of care.
• Skills and capacity function to ensure professionals, volunteers and community settings are supported to embed prevention in their offer. This will include delivery of a health champions programme and delivery of the Making Every Contact Count training programme.
• Community engagement and development to support sustainable solutions to identified need, including supporting delivery of group based activities in priority areas with a focus on physical activity, food and emotional wellbeing.
• A small grants offer to support local organisations to develop and deliver health improvement activities within their communities.
• Campaign and resources function to deliver high quality information, guidance and resources to frontline professionals and to amplify national campaigns and support and co-ordinate local campaigns.
• System co-ordination function to ensure joined up approach to pathway development, data collection and to maximise integration across services. Additional information: The services are being procured under the Provider Selection Regime.

1 extension option(s) available, 0 taken; up to 24 months in total

Option: 24 months, from 2029-04-01, to 2031-03-31, Extension Option