Occupational Health and EAP Service

London Borough of Lewisham

Retendering of Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Programme

The London Borough of Lewisham is retendering it Occupational Health & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). We would like to meet with suppliers who are interested in providing this service to the Council. The engagement session will provide an opportunity for providers to gain an understanding of the service Lewisham requires and for us to ascertain various delivery options/models that may suit the Council going forward.

Engagement Sessions

Please contact Rita Lee on 0208 314 7764 or alternately e-mail rita.lee@lewisham.gov.uk to book an appointment of the following dates:

21 August 2019

10am to 11.30am

12 noon to 1.30pm

22 August 2019

10am to 11.30am

12 noon to 1.30pm

28 August 2019

10am to 11.30am

4 September 2019

2.30 pm to 4pm

Location

Laurence House

1 Catford Road

London SE6 4RU

We would like suppliers to complete a questionnaire prior to the engagement session.

Questions - Soft Market Assessment

1 Please briefly describe your organisations main line of business?

2 What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in delivering an Occupational Health service to a large and diverse workforce undertaking a wide variety of roles?

3 Please confirm your timescales and KPI's for appointment times and the production of OH reports for similar sized organisations?

4 Please provide your views on how training could be provided and implementing your service into a new organisation?

5 What is the minimum contractual term that you would be interested in bidding for?

6 What would you envisage the estimate annual cost would be for delivering the service?

7 Please provide details on how you view equalities in the workplace can be supported

Please complete and return by 12 noon on Thursday 15 August 2019 to rita.lee@lewisham.gov.uk

Please note that this notice is for the purpose of conducting a soft market testing exercise and a not a call for competition. It does not formally begin the procurement process or constitute any commitment by London Borough of Lewisham to undertake any procurement exercise

Additional information

Background

The Council employees approximately 8,300 staff including schools and carry out approximately 300+ referrals per year and 120 pre-employment screening assessments. Our aim is to reduce absence and assist our staff back to work where possible. We will work with our Occupational Health provider in providing direction and guidance to applicants and the workforce in accessing work, including any adjustments that maybe necessary for them to be able to work effectively. We will also work with our Occupational Health providers delivering and defending health, social care and support, by promoting healthy lifestyles for our workforce and explore wellbeing initiatives including mental health awareness, coping with musculoskeletal conditions and supporting flu vaccination campaigns.

The Occupational Health and EAP service has a key role in supporting general health and wellbeing by helping the Council ensure we have a fit and healthy workforce to deliver crucial community services. We want our Occupational Health provider to sustain a good understanding of the Council and its services, including the variety of roles across the Council and the Schools, and their varying job requirements and competencies. We will expect our provider to commit to healthy work practices and demonstrate their commitment to improve staff physical and mental wellbeing and reduce absenteeism due to ill health.

Occupational Health Service

The main requirements of the Occupational Health services will be to provide the following:

Core Service

• Occupational Health Assessments and reports (face to face appointments and telephone options)
• Employment post-offer screening
• Review of fitness for work and health surveillance
• Ill-health retirement applications
• Provide advice and guidance to managers
• Case conferences

Additional chargeable Services

• Carrying out screening programmes, e.g. for TB
• Stress risk assessments
• Vaccinations
• Driver assessments
• Drug and alcohol testing and advice (if required)

Employee Assistance Programme

The main requirements of the service are to provide a confidential EAP to employees and immediate family members including:

• 24/7 telephone counselling service, debt counselling, financial and legal advice
• Face to face counselling service, where required
• Tailored support for line managers
• Critical Incident support