Sefton Council recognises it has a duty of care to employees and recognises that in order to provide effective services it must ensure that their employees stay healthy and fit for work and that, as far as possible, the work that they do does not affect their health. Its aim is to have a healthy and fit workforce to meet the needs of it service provision. The Council therefore provides an occupational health service to its employees which it also extends to its Schools, Academies and local organisations through SLA agreements. It currently purchases a variety of occupational health services in relation to its conditions of service, pension provision, statutory requirements, more specific requirements of health and safety legislation and national health strategies as they apply. The numbers of staff employed by the Council fluctuates with seasonal, casual and temporary staff, but even accounting for these changes the total number of employees including schools is circa 8,000. Occupational Health Providers are now invited to tender for the provision of services to the Council for the period specified above. The Council is prepared to consider more than one Contractor so it can ensure its overall provision is as cost effective and flexible as necessary to meet its continually changing operational needs. Consequently, the contract is separated into 4 Lots which can be tendered for on an individual or group basis. The available Lots are : Lot 1 – Occupational Health Physician Lot 2 – Physiotherapist Lot 3 – Counselling Lot 4 – Psychotherapy / Cognitive Behavioural Therapy