Report - Access to Counselling in Schools (RC-CPU-25-203)
Renfrewshire Council · 11 June 2026
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 11 June 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 11 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: The Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Access to Counselling in Schools (RC-CPU-25-203) ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board to enter into a contract for Access to Counselling in Schools with Health is One Ltd. 1.2 The recommendation to award this Contract follows a procurement exercise which was conducted as an Open Procedure for an above GPA threshold contract in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, for Social and Other Specific Services and Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 1.3 A Contract Strategy was approved by the Head of Education, Children’s Services on 05 March 2026 and the Corporate Procurement Manager on 09 March 2026. _________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board:
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PUBLIC 2.1 Authorises the Head of Corporate Governance to award the Contract for Access to Counselling in Schools, reference RC-CPU-25-203 to Health is One Ltd (Company Registration Number SC296810). 2.2 Authorises a maximum contract value of up to of £761,800 (up to £304,000 for the first 8 months and thereafter up to £457,800 for additional 12 months) excluding VAT for the contract period 2.3 Authorises the award of a Contract for a period of 8 months with the option to extend for a period of 12 months at the sole discretion of the Council, subject to funding. 2.4 The commencement date of the Contract is anticipated to be the 01 October 2026. In the event that the Contract does not commence on 01 October 2026, the commencement date will be confirmed in the Council’s Letter of Acceptance. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The recommendations and actions from Scotland’s Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 highlight the significant need to provide opportunities for early intervention and prevention to avoid the unnecessary escalation of emotional distress in children and young people. By promoting positive mental health in children and young people from an early age, the range of positive school outcomes such as attitudes to learning, better attendance and lower exclusion rates will greatly increase. 3.2 The Scottish Government has demonstrated ongoing commitment to supporting positive mental health of children and young people in schools. This support includes continued funding to local authorities to ensure that schools have access to counselling services. These counselling services are focused on prevention and early intervention and include supports for positive mental health and wellbeing as well as for emotional distress. The optional extension year is subject to funding by the Scottish Government. 3.3 The Contract for Access to Counselling in Schools within Renfrewshire schools will support delivery of one of Renfrewshire Council’s strategic priorities “to reduce inequalities and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people”. This will be a universal counselling service accessible to children and young people in primary, secondary and ASN schools, with those services predominantly delivered within a school setting.
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PUBLIC 3.4 The procurement process for this Contract was conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, for a Social and Other Specific Services Contract using the Open Procedure and the Renfrewshire Council Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 3.5 The Contract Notice was published on the Find-a-Tender Service via the Public Contracts Scotland website on 09 March 2026. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) was also published and available on this date from Public Contracts Scotland – Tender. The Tender Deadline was 12 noon on 10 April 2026. 3.6 During the tendering period, 21 economic operators expressed an interest in the tender opportunity with 3 responses submitted and a further 18 economic operators who failed to respond. Those who did not respond either could not meet the scope within the Service Specification, did not meet the minimum tender requirements, or had insufficient capacity. 3.7 In accordance with Regulation 76. (1) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended and Renfrewshire Council’s Standing Order relating to Contracts 11.5, a Single Procurement Document (SPD)(Scotland) was required to be completed as part of the Tender submission. All tenderers confirmed compliance with the minimum selection criteria set within the SPD(Scotland). Each tender submission was then evaluated against the published award criteria of 80% Quality and 20% Price. 3.8 The scores relative to the Award Criteria for each of the 3 Tenderers are noted below: Tenderer Quality (80%) Price (20%) TOTAL Health is One Ltd (co.no. SC296810) 80.00% 20.00% 100.00% Lifelink (co.no. SC171155) 67.50% 19.97% 87.47% RAMH (co.no. SC141458) 58.75% 19.97% 78.72% 3.9 The evaluation of the tender submissions received identified that the tender submitted by Health is One Ltd was the most economically advantageous tender submission.
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PUBLIC 3.10 Community Benefits were requested as part of this procurement process. Health is One Ltd has confirmed the following will be delivered as part of the Contract: Community Benefit Number Offered Industry Awareness Events 2 Business advice/support to an SME /Social Enterprise/ Voluntary organisation 2 ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – the maximum approved value of £761,800 excluding VAT for the initial period and the optional extension (20 months in total) will be met by the Children’s Services revenue budget. 2. HR & Organisational Development - None. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Fair: Nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all: o Protecting, supporting and nurturing children with particular focus on early intervention and mental health and wellbeing, to ensure positive outcomes; o Placing the rights and needs of every child and young person at the centre of our decision making and service delivery; o Raising educational attainment while ensuring equity for all our children and young people. • Place – working together to enhance wellbeing across communities: o We want children to grow up excited, inspired and encouraged to fulfil their potential in Renfrewshire and want to continue to stay here. • Economy – Building an inclusive, green and resilient economy (matching people, skills and opportunities): o Improving lives and securing wellbeing through a stronger, inclusive and sustainable economy, being creative, imaginative and linking opportunities to enhance the benefits for Renfrewshire; o Matching the skills developed in Renfrewshire with the opportunities available in Renfrewshire and equipping all children and young people to achieve success in life.
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PUBLIC 4. Legal - This procurement was carried out in accordance with the procedures for an above GPA Threshold Social and Other Specific Services Contract under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended and the Renfrewshire Council Standing Orders Relating to Contracts. 5. Property/Assets - None. 6. Information Technology - The Council’s Security and Compliance team evaluated the cyber security evidence submitted by the recommended Tenderer. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored. 8. Health & Safety - The Health and Safety submission has been assessed by Corporate Health and Safety Officers, Health is One Ltd were deemed to meet the necessary requirements. 9. Procurement – The procurement procedures outlined within this report shall ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements in respect of procurement procedures, efficiency and modern Government. The contract notice erroneously included for a renewal rather than extension, however the optional extension period was clearly detailed in the ITT and Pricing Schedule. 10. Risk - The insurances submitted by Health is One Ltd was assessed by Renfrewshire Council’s Risk Officer and satisfied the Council’s requirements. 11. Privacy Impact - The Contract includes Renfrewshire Council’s General Conditions of Contract Health and Social Care(H&SC) data protection provisions. Health is One Ltd will be a Data Controller and, as such, have a legal responsibility to comply with Data Protection legislation when collecting, processing and storing personal data to those receiving a service under this Contract. 12. Climate Risk – The level of impact associated with the services provided under this Contract were assessed using the Scottish Government Sustainability Test and is considered to be low impact.
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PUBLIC 13. Children’s Rights – This report demonstrates compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers – None. _____________________________________________________________ Author: Ashley Hopkirk, Procurement Assistant, Corporate Procurement Unit Ashley.hopkirk@renfrewshire.gov.uk