Social Prescribing Link Worker - Health Connections

Social prescribing is a key part of Universal Personalised Care, connecting people to non-clinical community activities and services that support their social, emotional, and practical wellbeing. Delivered by trained professionals, it offers a holistic, person-centred approach that empowers individuals, reduces reliance on clinical services, and strengthens local communities through meaningful engagement.

Somerset Integrated Care Board are intending to award a contract to the existing provider following a Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract.

The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably. This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/26 to 30/06/27.

This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Somerset Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice), in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: SPLW teams have strong collaborative relationships across Somerset's health, care, and community sectors, with presence within local networks, helping to ensure that individuals receive coordinated, holistic support.

These links are ensured via taking a proactive role in multi‑agency meetings and neighbourhood collaborations at PCN-level, contributing valuable community insight and championing prevention-first approaches. These partnerships are helping reduce duplication and improve the consistency of support for people with complex social needs.

They also reflect the Providers' ongoing commitment to integrated working, collaborative problem‑solving, and elevating community voices within Somerset's health and care landscape. Additionally, CCS are a key delivery partner in strategic development, ensuring that the lived experience gathered by them every day feeds directly into policy, such as shaping housing, transport and dementia support locally.

Our Social Prescriber providers in Somerset come together as a Community of Practice to ensure learning and connections between teams, and as part of the Somerset Social Prescribing Collaborative to develop our strategic direction for social prescribing and a joint standards framework and performance metrics. A direct award to Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice) would be appropriate and present the best value for the Commissioner in this circumstance.

Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract.

The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent Provider in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: • Quality and innovation • Value • Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability • Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice • Social value The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £275,745 This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2027. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice.

The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.

The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.