Community Health Improvement Services are public health commissioned services aimed to improve people's health.
If you are a pharmacy, GP or other eligible provider, you can use this section to find all the information and resources needed to sign up to become a provider and start delivering Community Health Improvement Services.
We have worked closely with the Local Medical Committee and Community Pharmacies Dorset to create a fair contract award process.
How to apply
If you are a new provider and would like to apply for one or more services within the contract or an existing provider who would like to add a new service, please follow these steps:
- Register your organisation for an account with Procontract or log in using the email linked to your account. If that email is no longer active or the staff member has left, you will need to ‘Raise a Case’ with Procontract for help.
- Once you have accessed your account, you will need to search ‘Opportunities’ for ‘Community Health Improvement Services’.
- All details of sections that need to be completed will be in the procurement document located on the opportunity.
When to apply
The new contract application opened in February 2024 and will remain open for new providers throughout the duration of the contract period until March 2029.
If you don’t meet all the criteria straight away, you can reapply when you do.
Getting support
All clarifications and questions should be raised through the ProContract e-procurement portal. There is additional help available on the Procontract website.
An NHS Health Check is for residents aged 40 to 74 years old to check if they’re at risk from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The process, as laid out in government legislation, assesses a range of health factors, including smoking status, family history of coronary heart disease, body mass index, cholesterol level, blood pressure, physical activity levels, cardiovascular risk score, and alcohol consumption.
For Dorset and BCP Council areas, we have a more targeted approach and encourage providers to invite residents with certain cardiovascular risk factors which are outlined in the service specification.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the NHS Health Check Service Specification 2024/25.
Training requirements
Providers should ensure that all practitioners conducting NHS Health Checks must complete the following training:
- core competency training
- Point of Care Testing (POCT)
- Familiarisation with POCT machines, provided by the machine manufacturer
- behaviour change training
- NICE PH6 Behaviour Change: General Approaches
- Healthy Living Pharmacy Level 1 (for pharmacies only)
- RSPH Award Level 2 Supporting Behaviour Change (Health and Wellbeing)
For more detailed information about additional training requirements, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
How to submit claims
Providers should use the relevant NHS Health Checks templates in PharmOutcomes as outlined in the service specification to submit a claim for payment. For a step-by-step guide you can watch this short video on submitting claims.
For providers using SystmOne, including via the Ardens templates, should run the ‘Public Health - Health Check’ search and submit the corresponding output. For support on submitting claims, contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Further information and resources
Providers are required to use the NHS Health Check results leaflet for each check. If you need additional copies of the leaflet, please email: phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception used has failed – for example, a condom has split, or a pill has been missed.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the Emergency Hormonal Contraception Service Specification 2024/25.
Providers should also refer to the Levonorgesterol PGD and Ulipristal Acetate PGD.
Training requirements
Providers should ensure that staff delivering the service complete:
- CPPE e-learning course: Core and foundation learning Emergency Contraception and the Declaration of Competence Emergency contraception (at least every 3 years)
- CPPE e-learning course: Safeguarding Children and Adults (at least every 3 years)
For more detailed information about training, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
How to submit claims
Providers should use the relevant EHC templates in PharmOutcomes as outlined in the service specification to submit a claim for payment. For a step-by-step guide on submitting claims you can watch this short video.
Further information and resources
Providers can find helpful clinical guidance on delivering EHC service on The Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare website.
Long-acting reversible contraception refers to contraceptive methods that require administration less than once per cycle or month. This can include copper IUDs, progestogen-only intrauterine systems, injectables, and subdermal implants.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Service Specification 2024/25.
Training requirements
Providers should ensure that staff delivering the service complete:
- the College of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) accredited Online Theory Assessment (OTA) or hold a sexual health diploma
- subdermal implant fitters: Letter of Competence Subdermal Contraceptive Implants Techniques Insertion and Removal (LoC SDI-IR)
- coil fitters: Letter of Competence Intrauterine Techniques (LoC IUT)
Maintaining competencies
Healthcare professionals are also required to:
- read and abide by the Guidance for those undertaking or recertifying CoSRH qualifications whose personal beliefs conflict with the provision of abortion or any method of contraception
- recertify their LoC coils or implants every 5 years, as specified by the CoSRH recertification requirements
For more detailed information about training, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
How to submit claims
Providers responsible for providing this service need to input data on SystmOne using Ardens templates. Contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for further information. To learn more about reporting data and submitting claims, watch this LARC Lunch and Learn recording.
Needle exchange provides the safe supply of needles and syringes for people who inject drugs with the aim of reducing the transmission of blood-borne viruses and other infections caused by sharing injecting equipment. It also reduces the risk to the public from discarded needles by providing the opportunity for disposal of used sharps.
To support the delivery of these services, providers can request an initial visit from a representative of their relevant local authority or treatment provider to advise on setting up the service and to give practical advice on how the needle exchange transaction can take place within the location.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the Needle Exchange Service Specification 2024/25.
Training requirements
Providers should complete the 4 e-learning units on “Substance use and misuse” to demonstrate competence. For more detailed information about additional training requirements, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
How to submit claims
Providers should use the relevant needle exchange templates in PharmOutcomes as outlined in the service specification to submit a claim for payment. For a step-by-step guide you can watch this short video on submitting claims.
Further information and resources
Providers must only use our contracted provider Vernacare, to order the needle exchange equipment required to be able to deliver this service. Contact them at nxsales@vernagroup.com. For more information on equipment and ordering, please refer to the service specification.
For needle exchange waste collection, providers must be set up on the PHS supplier system before sharps bins can be collected. Contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to do this. Once registered, it is the provider’s responsibility to arrange waste collection frequency. Only 30 litre sharps bins are permitted to be used and collected. Refer to the service specification for more information.
Providers can also find helpful guidance for delivering substance misuse services in community pharmacies on the GOV.UK website. This includes advice to support safe, effective care, helping more people access drug and alcohol treatment and reduce harm.
Local treatment services
REACH is Dorset Council’s drug and alcohol treatment service, offering confidential support to adults. To contact REACH, call 0800 043 4656 or email SW_InfoReach@waythrough.org.uk.
WithYou is BCP Council’s drug and alcohol treatment service, offering confidential support to all ages. To contact WithYou, call 01202 558855 or email withyou.bcp@nhs.net.
Naloxone is a lifesaving drug which can reverse an opioid overdose. It’s especially important for people at risk of using opiates or synthetic opioids which are strong and dangerous drugs that are becoming more common. Naloxone kits and training are available from REACH and With You. Contact them to find out more.
Supervised consumption requires pharmacist supervision of prescribed Opiate Substitution Therapy (OST) medicines at the point of dispensing, ensuring that the dose has been administered to the patient. This may be prescribed to support people who are dependent on substances with the aim of reducing risks to the individual and the wider community.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the Supervised Consumption Service Specification 2024/25.
Training requirements
Providers should complete the 4 e-learning units on “Substance use and misuse” to demonstrate competence. For more detailed information about additional training requirements, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Watch the Supervised Consumption Lunch and Learn recording to learn more about setting up the service, understanding its importance, exploring the local context, and discovering the support available for pharmacies.
- if you’re a Dorset Council provider, watch this recording
- if you’re a BCP Council provider, watch this recording
How to submit claims
Providers should use the relevant supervised consumption templates in PharmOutcomes as outlined in the service specification to submit a claim for payment. For a step-by-step guide you can watch this short video on submitting claims.
Further information and resources
Providers can find helpful guidance for delivering substance misuse services in community pharmacies on the GOV.UK website. This includes advice to support safe, effective care, helping more people access drug and alcohol treatment and reduce harm.
Local treatment services
REACH is Dorset Council’s drug and alcohol treatment service, offering confidential support to adults. To contact REACH, call 0800 043 4656 or email SW_InfoReach@waythrough.org.uk.
WithYou is BCP Council’s drug and alcohol treatment service, offering confidential support to all ages. To contact WithYou, call 01202 558855 or email withyou.bcp@nhs.net.
Naloxone is a lifesaving drug which can reverse an opioid overdose. It’s especially important for people at risk of using opiates or synthetic opioids which are strong and dangerous drugs that are becoming more common. Naloxone kits and training are available from REACH and With You. Contact them to find out more.
Smoking cessation offers support and advice to individuals who want to quit smoking, including supplying nicotine replacement therapy, or pharmacotherapy alongside behavioural support.
Key service delivery documents
To deliver the service in line with your contract, please refer to the Smoking Cessation Service Specification 2024/25.
To deliver pharmacotherapy, please refer to the Varenicline PGD and Cytisine PGD.
Training requirements
Providers should ensure that staff delivering the service complete:
- National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training’s (NCSCT) Practitioner Training Programme and assessment module
- NCSCT Vaping: a guide for healthcare professionals’ module
Optional NCSCT training modules to support delivery of the service include:
- Very Brief Advice on smoking for pregnant women
- Standard Treatment Programme for Pregnant Women
- Pregnancy (specialty course for practitioners who have a NCSCT Practitioner Certification)
- Mental Health (specialty course for practitioners who have a NCSCT Practitioner Certification)
For more detailed information about training, please refer to the service specification or contact phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
How to submit claims
Providers who use SystmOne are required to complete and submit the smoking cessation report, which can be requested from phcontracts@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Providers who use Pharmoutcomes are required to complete the relevant smoking cessation templates. For a step-by-step guide to completing the smoking cessation template, watch this short video. For a step-by-step guide on submitting claims for varenicline and cytisine under the PGDs, watch this short video.
Further information and resources
Get expert guidance and evidence-based insights around smoking and vaping to help you support more people to quit, from:
- Action on Health and Smoking (ASH)
- NCSCT - electronic cigarettes: a briefing for stop smoking services
- NCSCT Vaping: a guide for healthcare professionals
- NICE guidance - Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence
Local and national support to stop smoking
Additional support is available to help people quit smoking, which you can signpost to: