SFT/AT/066 Provision of Community Based Support for Mental Health Services

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) ("the Head Provider") has been commissioned by Somerset ICS and Somerset County Council (SCC) ("the Commissioners") to deliver community based support for mental health services. As the Head Provider, Somerset Foundation Trust will sub-contract to the successful Provider/Alliance of Providers for the provision of these services.

As the second most rural county in England, Somerset has a rapidly ageing population, instances of digital poverty, poor public transport and road infrastructure and which means travel times across the county are often longer than in other areas. Within Somerset we know we need to further strengthen a transformational approach to improving mental health due to: • Continue to deliver the successful Open Mental Health model; across community and urgent offers and into communities; • Need for greater engagement with the people and their carers who access services; • Increased demand and complexity of those with mental health needs with demand outstripping capacity; • The continuing need to support our non-elective and emergency acute colleagues.