Family Weight Management Service

The council are inviting suppliers to participate in preliminary engagement to gain insight from the market with the purpose of making any potential future exercise, well framed, feasible, focused and of likely interest to the market.

As part of our whole systems approach to healthy weight, Durham County Council has identified the need for a Tier 2 Family Weight Management Service (FWMS) to support children and families in achieving healthier lifestyles and improved wellbeing.

The service will address childhood overweight and obesity as core outcomes, while promoting sustainable, family-centred health behaviours. It is specifically aimed at children in Reception and Year 6 who are identified through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The data for 2023/24 shows that 1,330 children at Reception age and 2,105 children in Year 6 are living with overweight (including obesity) in our area.

Programme Overview

• Duration: 12 months, including a 10-week in-person programme (aligned with NICE guidance) and ongoing digital support.
• Delivery: Community venues across County Durham, accessible by public transport.
• Team: A multidisciplinary group of professionals with experience working with children and families, and knowledge and practical expertise in delivering targeted weight management programmes
• Equity Focus: Applying a proportionate universalism approach, the service will prioritise communities with higher levels of deprivation, guided by NCMP data.

Programme Components

• Group-based physical activities and psycho-educational workshops.
• Family-focused nutritional sessions for parents.
• Topics Covered:
• Healthy habits and balanced meals
• Eatwell guide, portion sizes, energy intake
• Regular meals/snacks, hydration, sugar awareness
• Food labels, influences on choices, language
• Mental wellbeing, sleep, physical literacy, Non-Exercise Activity Time (NEAT)

Strategic Alignment

This initiative supports the County Durham Healthy Weight Plan and promotes collaborative working across partners to reduce obesity and foster long-term healthy behaviours in families.

The benefits to your organisation in participating in this process include:

• the chance to assess whether the opportunity will be suitable and of interest to you
• ensuring that specifications are realistic and market-focused
• the chance to raise any risks, concerns or issues regarding the potential opportunity

There is no commercial advantage or disadvantage to your organisation being involved in this exercise.