Sessional Psychological Therapies Services

Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group

Lower Ormeau Road Residents Action Group (LORAG) is inviting tender applications, from competent and qualified providers to undertake the delivery of psychological therapy on a sessional basis for individuals referred via the Mental Health Hub.

LORAG Overview:

 

LORAG was formed in 1987 to support the residents and community of the Lower Ormeau, and was founded with the following specific objectives:

  • Build self-confidence and develop activities to meet the needs of the community
  • Improve the educational attainment and health of, children, young people and adults in the area
  • Support local parents in their parenting role and family cycle
  • Increase social interaction, community safety and community involvement to reduce feeling of isolation and improve emotional well being
  • Improve the ability of local residents to compete for and obtain training and job opportunities
  • Respond to local poverty, health inequalities, housing and environmental issues
  • Involve relevant statutory and voluntary agencies and in turn feed the views of local residents to policy makers
  • Work in partnership with other local communities to achieve these aims where appropriate

 

LORAG Mission statement:

 

“LORAG is a vehicle for change and a voice for local people”

 

Further information can be accessed on our website:  www.lorag.org

 

Role description

 

We see this role to have a range of priorities:-

 

  • To engage with individuals referred for talking therapies on a one to one basis
  • To provide one to one psychological therapy to individuals presenting with a range of mental health issues.
  • To act as a liaison for other LORAG staff
  • To travel to any LORAG outreach centre as required.  
    • To inform individuals about the range of support services offered by LORAG to encourage internal pathways
    • To work closely with identified LORAG staff to ensure that all appropriate procedures and processes are followed at all times.
    • To be a critical point of contact for individuals presenting in crisis
    • Ensure all processes (including CORENET and letters to GPs are completed accurately and kept up to date) and all paperwork invoices etc. completed on time and returned to LORAG coordinator.
  • Attend  meetings with other relevant LORAG staff at the outset of the work and liaise in relation to the timetabling of services and associated issues
  • Liaise with the LORAG coordinator immediately should a problem arise, relating to the well-being of clients and/or if identified that an individual requires any other support or referral pathway
  • Attend regular one to one meetings with the LORAG coordinator. 
  • Ensure all relevant paperwork is completed and returned to the LORAG coordinator fully completed and on time

 

 

 

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

 

Individuals must clearly demonstrate that they:-

 

 

Qualifications

  • Recognised Diploma /Degree Counselling.
  • Registered Member of BACP or equivalent Professional Body
  • Evidence of professional development

Experience

 

  • Evidence of a minimum of 2 years recent experience working contractually with clients within a counselling setting.
  • Evidence of a minimum of 200 hours post qualifying, supervised practice within past 2 years.
  • Hold Professional Liability Insurance to a minimum of £5 million.
  • Experience of dealing with a range of issues that impact on the emotional well-being of clients.
  • Ability to network and liaise with other professionals from the community /voluntary and statutory sectors to ensure client’s needs are met.
  • Experience in assessing the needs of clients and create care pathways.

Skills

  • Ability to identify and assess level of risk and respond appropriately
  • Ability to manage a caseload and to maintain and produce clear written reports and records
  • Knowledge of Step Care Model
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Experience of using CORE as an evaluation and audit tool.

 

Additional

  • Access to car or ability to travel to meet the needs of the organisation.
  • Professional indemnity Insurance
  • Are in receipt regular supervision in the context of which continuing professional development should be addressed

 

 

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

  • CBT Level 5 Diploma
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • BACP Accreditation
  • Experience of working with children and young people

 

The tender format is as follows:

 

a)    Applicants must demonstrate how they meet all elements of the essential criteria.  Please note it is important to address each criteria listed above in your application. 

b)    Applicants must be able to demonstrate value for money. A cost per hour inclusive of travel, subsistence and VAT should be provided. 

c)    Applicants must be able to demonstrate a flexible approach to service delivery.

d)    Applicants must include a full and up to date CV with their application including 2 referees.

e)    Applicants must include a copy of all relevant certificates.

f)     Applicants must include evidence of membership of BACP or equivalent Professional body prior to commencement of sub-contracting.

g)    Applicants must include evidence of insurance.

h)    Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to regular supervision in the context of which continuing professional development should be addressed.  If the applicant has a current supervisor then the details of this supervisor should be included in the tender.

i)      Applicants must outline what days and times they are available to deliver services on behalf of LORAG.  Please be aware LORAG deliver sessions both during the day, some evenings and weekends. 

j)      Tender applications must include a completed Declaration of Employment Status form.

 

Copies of tender proposals should be forwarded in a plain envelope clearly marked “Psychological Therapies Tender” to:-

 

Laura Loye

Shaftesbury Community & Recreation Centre

97 Balfour Avenue

Belfast BT7 2EW

 

Any tender applications not including all information above will be discounted as incomplete and will not move to scoring.  All tenders must be received no later than 12.00 pm on Friday 30th June 2017.  No late tenders, faxed tenders or e-mails will be accepted.

 

LORAG will use the information supplied to score all tender applications.  Please take note of weighting criteria as this will be used to total scores and only applicants who score over 80 will be added to our Approved Sub Contractors List.  Although a score of 80 or more will allow enable an applicant’s details to be added to our Approved Sub Contractors List this does not constitute any guarantee of hours.  Please note any successful tender will only be valid for a period of 12 months from date of appointment.

 

 

Award Criteria

Score out of 100

Recognised Diploma/Degree Counselling

5

Membership of Professional body/registered or accredited status

10

Evidence of 200 hours post qualifying supervised practice within last two years

10

Evidence of professional indemnity insurance

10

Knowledge of step care model

10

Clinical supervisor and supervisory arrangements

10

Experience of using CORE as an evaluation and audit tool

10

Flexibility/ times available

10

CV included

5

Mental Health First Aid Qualification

4

Emergency First Aid at Work Qualification

4

Keeping Adults Safe Training Qualification

4

Keeping Children Safe Training Qualification

4

Safe Talk/Assist training within last 12 months

4

 

Contact Details

 

If you require further information or wish to clarify any points of doubt or difficulty relating to the tender documentation before submission of your proposal, the contact point Laura Loye (LORAG Coordinator).

 

Email: [email protected] Tel: 028 90312377.

 

START AND COMPLETION DATES

 

It is anticipated that funding for this service delivery will be until March 2018.

 

 

             

Closing Date

Friday / 30 June 2017
1:00pm

Contact Details

Laura Loye

Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre
97 Balfour Avenue
Belfast
BT7 2EW
United Kingdom