URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6060

Decision Maker: Director of Public Health

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: This report seeks the authority to start a tender process to procure a provider of suicide bereavement postvention services for Cheshire & Merseyside.  

Content: This report seeks the authority to start a tender process to procure a provider of suicide bereavement postvention services for Cheshire & Merseyside.   The Director of Public Health has decided to approve the initiation of a legally compliant procurement process for the commission of Suicide Bereavement Postvention service using the Competitive Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 within the estimated budget envelop of £540,000.   The Council’s procurement department have advised that the Suicide bereavement postvention services (“the Services”) can be procured by using the competitive process under the Healthcare Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.   The ‘Support After Sicide Partnership’ provides guidance on the areas that should be covered by the Services provide being: governance, policies, staffing, collaboration / partnership work, awareness, and access, delivering a responsive and high-quality service, monitoring measurement and evaluation. This has informed the Council’s specification for the Services, together with the Council’s experience of managing the existing contract for similar services which expires March 2026.   It is important to note that in Cheshire & Merseyside, no beneficiaries of the services under the existing contract services have gone on to take their own life. Research indicates that those bereaved and impacted by suicide are at an increased risk of dying by suicide themselves. This highlights the importance of these services across the region.   The Wirral Council Plan Priorities 2023-27, and specifically the following aspects, ·  To deliver high quality efficient universal services to all residents, ·  To prioritise those with the greatest needs, ·  To work across communities, with communities, voluntary and faith organisations, and partners to improve residents’ life chances, align with the requirements of the commissioning of these services by the Council on behalf of the Chesire & Merseyside region, as in each area the new service will ensure local connections with partners, the community and faith organisations for the benefit of beneficiaries of the suicide bereavement postvention service. The partners will also promote the suicide bereavement postvention services in local places thus supporting those local places when a suspected suicide(s) occur by ensuring professionals such as GPs, Police and other professional groups are aware of these services and understand how to make a referral when needed. The Service will contribute to improving residents’ life chances for those who have experienced or been impacted by a bereavement through a suspected suicide.   Doing nothing and letting the current contract expire is not a realistic option  as the NHS Long Term Plan states – “we will put in place suicide bereavement support forfamilies and staff working in mental health crisis services in every area of the country” There is funding for suicide bereavement services allocated nationally to ICBs through Mental Health programmes, for suicide bereavement postvention services, therefore this option was disregarded.   The Council undertook a soft market test to seek market feedback on the provision of these Services, which tested interest in service delivery and feedback on the delivery model. With this information the Council determined that an open market tender utilising the NHS Provider Services Regime would be the most appropriate route to market (therefore disregarding other routes within the NHS Provider Services Regime that are available).  

Date of Decision: August 13, 2025