Purpose

This report seeks approval of
the recommended procurement strategy for Public Mental Health
Training in the community. 
 
In October 2023, the Public
Health Management Team approved the commissioning of Public Mental
Health Training (PMHT) contract that will include Mental Health
First Aid (MHFA) `and Trauma Informed Training. 
 
The contractual terms will be
3+2 years, maximum annual value £150,000, total value
£750,000. 
 

Content

The Director of Public Health
AGREED to:
 
Approve the procurement
strategy within this report to undertake a compliant procurement
process which will result in a contract for Public Mental Health
Training Service for a term of 5 years (3+2), at a maximum annual
value £150,000, total value £750,000.
 

Reasons for the decision

The council is seeking to
commission Public Mental Health Training, including MHFA and Trauma
Informed Training (TI), and other training determined by local
need, via an open tender route. 
 
MHFA training is currently
delivered inhouse and Trauma Informed Training is delivered by an
external organisation. Both training was originally due to end on
31st March 2025, however, have been extended to limit
the break in provision.   
 
For MHFA, staffing relating to
fixed term contract ended on 31st March 2025. However,
the sessional workers delivering the training is on-going and HR
continues to be consulted in relation to these staffs. HR have been
consulted on the implications of the recommended
route.  
 
The current Trauma Informed
Training contract is due to end on the 31st of December
2025.  
 
The Public Health Team are
seeking to commission Public Mental Health Training, including MHFA
and TI elements of training to a community organisation to enable
the provision to reach more diverse communities. 
 
The aim is that the new
contract will: 

Build capacity in
existing community organisations in Croydon. 

Offer targeted
approach to ensured underrepresented communities’ benefit
from mental health literacy. 

Facilitate a peer
network to promote learning. 

 
The service specification will
require the successful provider to work towards a self-sustaining
model over the time of the contract. 
 
Specific KPI’s will be
built into the specification to ensure the provider works towards a
self-sustainable model and is self-funding by the end of the
contract. 
 
This will be reviewed annually
and extension beyond 3 years will be based on the providers
progress towards sustainability.  
 
 

Alternative options considered

The table below considers a
range of options including open tender v call-off from an existing
framework. Option 1 is recommended as it offers the best possible
outcome for public mental health in the
community.  
 

Options  

Advantages 

Disadvantages 

Recommended
Option. Commission a provider to deliver
public mental health training in the community via an open
procurement process. 

. 
 

Local providers are
offering a similar training model, will add capacity to the local
offer 

Transferring of funds
back into the community. 

Local offer will
allow flexibility and be needs led. 

Provider will be
required to work to a self-sustaining model, this will result in
savings. 

Will require to work
towards self-sustainable model by the end of the
contract. 

Council having less
oversight due to being commissioned out, compared to previous
arrangements. 

Not
recommended. Procure via a call-off from
an existing framework. 

Potentially quicker
Procurement Process 

The option of a
direct award. 

Frameworks explored
could not provide the specific nature of requirements for this
service.  

Smaller pool of
providers would reduce competition and potentially result in a
higher cost.  

Not
recommended. 

Cease programme at end of
31.3.2024 

This would mean
Public Health team’s work returns to core functions of
strategic influencing/commissioning, not service
delivery. 

Poor return on
initial investment. 

Potential political
risk as Mayor/council may be perceived as neglecting vulnerable
residents. 

Potential increased
demands on council and wider services from vulnerable people at
increased risk of mental illness as they will not have access to
advice, advocacy and peer support in the
community. 

Increased health
inequalities in the long term. 

Does not align with
Health and Care plan priorities.