Kent and Medway Individual Placement and Support Service

NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board are undertaking a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Competitive Process and are inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to bid for a Individual Placement and Support Service in Kent and Medway. The contract duration will be for an initial period of 3 years with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years as required.

Individual Placement Support Service across Kent & Medway is for adults 18+ with a Serious Mental Illness which delivers high quality care and identifies and addresses health inequalities. Individual Placement and Support is an evidence-based approach that helps people with severe mental illness (SMI) to achieve meaningful, paid employment as part of their recovery journey.

IPS offers intensive, person-centred support to help individuals choose secure, and sustain the right job—often within just weeks of referral. Ongoing support is provided to both the employee and employer, ensuring a strong foundation for long-term success

Individual Placement Support Service is rooted in eight internationally recognised principles, including: A focus on paid, competitive employment (not volunteering or sheltered work) Zero exclusion – anyone who wants to work is eligible Integration with mental health teams, ensuring a joined-up approach to care and support IPS achieves significantly better outcomes than traditional vocational services. Studies show that IPS helps more people return to work faster, earn more, remain in work longer, and spend less time in hospital.

This is why IPS is recommended by NICE as a core intervention in mental health services. This notice is an Intention to award a contract under the Competitive Process.

The lifetime value of the contract is expected to be £13,228,032.00 The initial term of the contract will be between 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029, with the option to extend to up to 31st March 2031 This contract relates to an existing service with the intention to award being made to an existing provider.