Armed Forces Link Workers

NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board has awarded a contract to Ark@Egwood for the provision of Armed Forces Link Workers for the period 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, with a total contract value of £204,082. The services are classified as light touch services under Schedule 1 to the Procurement Regulations 2024. The contract value is below the applicable light touch threshold and the award is therefore subject to the regulated below-threshold provisions in Part 6 of the Procurement Act 2023. The contract has been awarded without competition following approval of a Single Tender Waiver under the ICB's internal governance arrangements. This Contract Details Notice is published in accordance with section 87 of the Procurement Act 2023.

The service will support Armed Forces community members (serving personnel, veterans, families and reservists) covering both individuals registered with GP practices across the Somerset ICB footprint and patients identified within acute hospital settings (MPH and YDH). The service is available to any member of the Armed Forces community who is registered with a Somerset GP or is living/working in Somerset.

The service will operate across four locality areas, including regular outreach in three settings in each locality.

• Mendip: Wells, Frome, Glastonbury

• Sedgemoor: Highbridge, Bridgwater, Hinkley

• South Somerset: Yeovil, Ilchester, Chard

• Taunton area: Taunton, Wellington, Watchet

The Armed Forces Link Worker (AFLW) service provides:

• Outreach-based engagement and support

• Hospital-based identification and intervention

• Referral, signposting, and casework support

• Partnership working across health, community, and military organisations

Delivery Model

1 Community / Outreach Delivery

The provider will:

• Maintain three outreach centres in each locality area (see above)

• Deliver outreach sessions at least once every 6 weeks per site

• Ensure provision is accessible to those unable to attend central hubs

• Provide a welcoming environment, including:

o Free refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits)

Additional requirements:

• Pay for venue hire where applicable (noting some venues are free, e.g. Wells, Highbridge)

• Actively promote sessions via:

o Website and social media

o LocalReach magazine

o Printed materials (where required)

• Record attendance and engagement at all sessions

2 Referral and Casework Support

The provider will:

• Accept referrals from:

o Self-referral (individuals)

o Organisations and professionals

o Respond to all queries/referrals within two working days as standard.

• Provide:

o 1:1 casework support

o Signposting and onward referrals

o Support to access appropriate Armed Forces and wider services, for example Op Fortitude, Op Courage.

• Maintain a single shared database of clients/contacts to:

o Avoid duplication

o Support continuity across acute and community settings

3 Acute (Hospital-Based) Delivery

The provider will:

• Employ one part-time AFLW in each acute hospital (approx. 25 hrs/week 0.7 WTE):

o Musgrove Park Hospital

o Yeovil District Hospital

Hospital AFLWs will:

• Review patient admissions daily to identify Armed Forces patients - subject to appropriate data protection training and adherence,

• Aim to visit newly identified patients promptly and contact the patient within two working days.

• Support:

o Timely discharge

o Access to Armed Forces-specific services

o Management of complex cases

• Promote recording of Armed Forces status across wards and departments

• Liaise with relevant leads (e.g. VCHA) to ensure compliance with data requirements

4 Primary Care and Locality Integration

Four whole-time equivalent (37.5 hrs) Locality-based AFLWs will:

• Build and maintain relationships with GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

• Provide support and training where requested

• Be an integral part of new neighbourhood working models and development.

• Promote accurate coding of Armed Forces status using SNOMED

• Work collaboratively with hospital-based AFLWs

The total value of the 1 year contract from 01/11/2026 to 1/10/2027 is £204,082.