Community Based Alternative Crisis Support Service

Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and West London NHS Trust (WLT) have completed a competitive process to identify an organisation who can co-produce six/eight community crisis alternative services, with our Experts by Experience (EBE) advisors, service users and carers, to be based in geographical locations across NW London boroughs.

The service will be a non-clinical service which will offer an open access safe space and calm environment for people who are experiencing mental health distress, in crisis, or need mental health advice. Without requiring an appointment, the provision will offer drop-in support, a warm drink, a listening ear, practical assistance, and the ability to refer or direct individuals to additional services if needed. The services will provide immediate practical support to reduce mental health distress and guide those with complex or urgent needs to the appropriate urgent care services. They help individuals manage their distress, develop healthy coping strategies, and ultimately aim to instil hope, self-worth, and purpose.

CNWL & WLT are committed to achieving the right balance of preventative community provision, access to home treatment in the community and inpatient care and the increase in the demand for inpatient beds means that a revised approach to the provision of services is required. Sufficient community and crisis care options are required to support patients in crisis and prevent reoccurrence, and this crisis provision is a key initiative to support this endeavour.

A core outcome for North West London is ‘to reduce A&E attendances’ with particular attention to High Intensity Users. It is vitally important that this service meets the needs of patients that frequently attend emergency settings if their needs could be met in a nonmedical environment. The provider will be expected to work with Liaison psychiatry teams and SPA’s to ensure access and outreach to particular service users is in place.

The services will form part of the CNWL & WLT mental health pathway alongside statutory services to bolster mental health support to CNWL service users (16+) and WLT service users 18+. This service will be available to people from North West London and consideration needs to be given to maximising access through careful location of 6/8 sites, with respect to population hubs, transport networks and areas of high need and maximising access for the population of the 8 Boroughs:

• Ealing
• Hounslow
• Hammersmith & Fulham
• Brent,
• Harrow,
• Hillingdon
• Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster

This procurement was divided into lots.

Lot 1 – Central & North West London Foundation Trust boroughs (Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster).

Lot 2 - West London Trust boroughs (Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow).

The contract will be for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 2 x 1 years. The start date of the contract will be 01 April 2026.