Optima Health Wins Wolverhampton Employee Health and Wellbeing Contract

Wolverhampton City Council has awarded a new contract for the provision of its Employee Health and Wellbeing Service to Optima Health UK Limited.

The contract will provide Occupational Health services and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for the council’s workforce of approximately 4,500 employees.

The service is expected to begin on 1 October 2026 and run until 30 September 2029, with the option to extend for a further year to 30 September 2030.

The contract is valued at £888,064 excluding VAT, or £1,065,677 including VAT.

Under the contract, Optima Health UK Limited will provide a professional Occupational Health service supporting the council with health assessments including pre-employment checks, management referrals led by nurses or physicians, medical ill-health retirement assessments and health surveillance.

Health surveillance may cover areas including noise, respiratory health, Hand Arm Vibration (HAVs), driving, skin and night working.

The contract also includes a 24/7, 365-days-a-year Employee Assistance Programme, providing confidential counselling and information services to employees experiencing personal or work-related problems that may affect their health, wellbeing or performance.

Counsellors delivering the service will be BACP-accredited registered providers or equivalent.

A total of 10 tenders were received, with seven assessed at the final stage. Six of the seven final-stage tenders were submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises.

The council made its award decision on 29 July 2026, with the earliest contract signing date stated as 31 August 2026.

The contract may also be utilised by other public sector bodies that have a Service Level Agreement with Wolverhampton City Council, including schools, academies and tenant management organisations.

The council will continue to manage the contract, with orders raised and invoices paid by Wolverhampton City Council.

The service is intended to support the council in meeting its responsibilities relating to employee health and safety, reasonable adjustments and equality in the workplace, while providing a structured framework for prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation.

The council states that the provision will help ensure continued compliance with key legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Equality Act 2010.

The contract was procured through an open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 and is designated as a light touch procurement.

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